Thank you Cape Gazette Editorial Board for once again insisting in your editorial (Jan 11) the need for a Sussex County Certified Planner is now!

Unfortunately, the county council does not seem to think that a certified planner is a priority (not advertised on the county website) and apparently, they're assuming they have the expertise and education to play the role of a planner, you don't!

For the benefit of the county council I give a brief, overall profile of a planner:

Duties: Develops comprehensive growth plans for urban and suburban communities; works closely with developers, government agencies, and others

Alternate Title(s): Regional Planner, Urban Planner

Salary Range: $51,000 to $86,000

Prerequisites:

Education or Training - Four-year degree, master’s degree preferred

Experience - One to three years experience in community or urban development

Special Skills and Personality Traits - Professional written and verbal skills; ability to work independently; detail-oriented; proficiency with Microsoft Office suite.

Special Requirements - Certification; certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners. Advanced certification; preferably in environmental planning/or transportation planning or both.

We all want what's best for Sussex County and one way to begin implementing that is to bring to the Sussex Planning and Zoning Commission as well as the Sussex County Council an experienced certified planner to attend their meetings and offer the best advice/options. Developers use planners and experts when they want to sell their development project to the P&Z and the county council, isn't the time now we have our expert?

Nadine Wick
Lewes