Lawyer, architect join Marblehead Planning board

MARBLEHEAD-Lawyer Kurt James and architect Edward Nilson are the new members of the Planning Board.They were elected Wednesday evening by the selectmen and the remaining three members of the Planning Board, who met in joint session to interview four candidates and name two of them to fill vacancies on the board.Both men said they plan to run for election to three-year seats on the board in May, as they are legally required to do. James took a seat held by David Stern, who would have come up for re-election in May. Nilsson will take a seat left vacant when a former member did not seek re-election. If he runs successfully next May he will serve until May, 2010.James, who grew up on Marblehead, has served on the Fair Housing Committee. Nilsson is a former Planning Board member who stepped down six years ago to return to school.Also applying were Marblehead native Mark Brings, a contractor who has volunteered at the Coffin School and veterans? groups and wants to see the town pull together, and Brian Leclair, a former director and president of the Cambridge Civic Association, who moved to Marblehead after what he described as a life-changing experience aboard a New York shuttle flight the morning of Sept. 11.James was elected on the first ballot. He was supported by Planning Board member Philip Helmes and Selectmen James Nye, Judy Jacobi, Jackie Belf-Becker and Selectmen Chairman Harry Christensen. Nilsson was elected on the second ballot with the support of Planning Board Chairman James Bishop, Planning Board member Helmes and Selectmen Judy Jacobi and Jackie Belf-Becker.Both Brings and Lecalir were asked to consider serving on the Conservation Commission, which also needs volunteers this fall.