SWAMPSCOTT — Tim Milliken, who started as the Town’s new Land Use and Development Planner in the first week of October, has his sights honed in on making a positive impact on the community.
Milliken discussed how his background and previous professional experiences have prepared him for the role.
“My background started with environmental science. I’ve always been a person who really wanted to be a steward of the community,” Milliken said. “Land Use and Development was the exact collision point between those two things.”
Milliken noted that he fell in love with the concept because he wanted to be able to solve problems in his community and added that working in Land Use and Development was “the best place to start.”
Prior to joining the ranks of Town Hall, Milliken previously worked in an environmental consulting firm for a year before going back to school to get his master’s degree in Geographical Information Systems (GIS). He also worked at Northeastern University as a graduate administration coordinator, followed by a role as the maps and records technician.
“That’s when I really started to fall in love with geographic information science and mapping, and things like that,” he said. “One of the greatest things has been the chance to talk to people with a variety of different experiences and backgrounds… Being exposed to different viewpoints has been really helpful.”
Milliken said he’s a naturally curious person, and he loves trying to learn new things. Though he added that he’s relatively new to the field, what excites him most about the position is the chance to “be a sponge and get to know as much as I possibly can.”
With a background in environmental science, one aspect Milliken is interested in is the impact climate change can have on the community.
“With Swampscott being right on the coastline, it can get hammered with storms, and those are only getting more severe… so, for me, that’s a particularly personal interest,” he said.
He continued, saying, “I think right now we’re in a housing crisis, and that, to me, is also one of the most important things to wrap my head around.”
Milliken added, “And also, it’s important for me to see how those kinds of issues take place in Swampscott because it might not look the same in nearby communities. I’m looking at it like, ‘How do the more global issues affect this community?’ and tailoring solutions to what the community wants.”
When it comes to balancing the development of the Town with preserving its historic character and environmental stability, Milliken said it’s about “having that open dialogue between Town Hall and the community.”
“I think the biggest way to make sure everything is balanced is to give the opportunity to hear from everybody that wants to contribute,” he said. “It’s about making sure everybody’s voice is heard because sometimes a person might not be able to attend a Town meeting.”
Milliken added that he’s really excited to get to know the Town and work collaboratively with Town Officials going forward in his new position.
