NORTHFIELD — Three candidates are vying for one seat on the Planning Board, while a new individual is looking to fill a Selectboard seat in this year’s town election.

Polls will be open on Tuesday, May 7, from noon to 8 p.m. at Town Hall.

There are two seats with three-year terms on the Selectboard, and Bernard J. Boudreau is seeking reelection to one. David P. McCarthy, who currently serves on the Finance Committee, is looking to fill the other after current Selectboard Chair Alex Meisner decided not to seek reelection following six years on the board.

Planning Board

Stephen Seredynski, Victoria Luksha and Joseph Stacy are listed on this year’s ballot for the five-year Planning Board term.

Luksha, 47, has been a Northfield resident for two years. She serves on the Conservation Commission, Emergency Services Facility Committee, Community Preservation Committee and Cultural Council, as well as on the board of directors for the Franklin Community Co-op.

Outside of the town of Northfield, Luksha works for the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), overseeing compliance of all federal regulations, laws, executive orders and other related tasks. Before this career, she did field archeology for cultural resource management.

Luksha has a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Portland State University and a master’s degree, also in anthropology, from the University of Montana.

While living in Northfield and hearing the viewpoints of other residents, Luksha said she feels like the town “really cherishes its green spaces,” adding that she wants to focus on plans and ideas that would enable Northfield to monetize these green spaces “by keeping them green and beautiful” and turning them more toward ecotourism.

“I feel like the last few years has really shown our country, as well as New Englanders and Massachusetts residents, how important being able to be with nature is and how much we value it,” she said. “The Open Space Committee here is amazing. They are so incredibly active and they have really made some beautiful paths and trails and everything else.”

In addition, Luksha wants to bring more businesses to town that would cater to Northfield’s trail systems and outdoor spaces, such as Airbnbs, bed and breakfasts, and outfitters.

“There’s a lot of businesses here that people don’t even know are here,” she said. “I want to change that while still being able to hold onto our character and charm.”

Stephen Seredynski, 70, current chair of the Planning Board, is running for reelection. He’s held a seat on the board for seven years.

Seredynski said during those seven years he’s completed several continuing education courses and attended several webinars on topics that are pertinent to Northfield, and has then shared what he learned with all other board members. Seredynski added that he’s applied for District Local Technical Assistance funding to assist the Planning Board with topics like solar, battery energy storage systems and accessory dwelling units.

He attended Greenfield Community College, where he obtained an associate’s degree in liberal arts and also an associate’s degree in nursing. He also attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree. Seredynski also earned a two-year certificate from Springfield Technical Community College in advanced paramedic technology.

“In addition to my degrees, I have received formal education in critical thinking,” Seredynski said. “I have served on and continue to serve on several town committees. I also maintain a good working relationship with town officials and departments. ... I do not require extensive on-the-job training in Planning Board issues. Experience matters.”

Seredynski has been a Northfield Kiwanis Club member for more than 30 years and served as president for two terms. He’s lived in Northfield for 40 years, where he’s raised his family, and is retired from a career as an emergency/critical care registered nurse. Before that, Seredynski served as an EMT and paramedic.

Stacy, who is also running for Planning Board, declined to be interviewed by the Greenfield Recorder.

Selectboard

Meisner, 30, said he opted not to seek reelection to the Selectboard because he’s looking into other career options and wants to be there more for his family. Next week, Meisner said he’s going to the police academy for the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office. He’s also looking to begin his doctorate in criminal justice or a related social science, maybe political science.

“I look forward to putting my kids to sleep more at night instead of being at a four-hour meeting,” Meisner continued. “I look forward to just a general advancement in my personal and professional life and closing out my 20s politicking as a chapter of my travels, but I would do it all again in a second the same way. ... This position was like being an Olympic torch holder or like a diplomatic custodian. I prepared the way for a while and I kept the house in order, and now I’ve made sure that it’s ready to be handed off to somebody else.”

Meisner said his proudest achievements during his time as a Selectboard member include revamping town bylaws, securing a $2 million MassWorks Infrastructure Program grant alongside the town administrator, and giving a speech to the governor, lieutenant governor and other state leaders. Another highlight for Meisner was when he helped outline an “unbiased” hiring process for a police chief succession “without any Selectboard political interference.” Additionally, Meisner secured a master’s degree in public administration last year.

Efforts to reach McCarthy, the candidate running to fill Meisner’s seat, were unsuccessful by press time on Friday.

Other races

The other races are as follows:

■Board of Assessors, three-year term — Bethany R. Walker.

■Board of Health, two seats with three-year terms — David C. Balk and Karen G. Boudreau.

■Library trustees, two seats with three-year terms — Nolan B. Kitfield and Gretchen F. Licata.

■Board of Trustees of Veterans Memorials, veteran’s position with a three-year term — Robert T. Henry.

■Board of Trustees of Veterans Memorials, non-veteran position with a three-year term — vacant.

■Constable, four seats with three-year terms — Francis “Frank” Froment, David M. Kelly and Debby Weisen-Kelly.

■Moderator, three-year term — Nathan W. L’Etoile.

■Recreation Commission, two seats with three-year terms — Chelsea R. Depault and Robert W.  Emberly.

■Sewer Commission, three-year term — Thomas E. Walker.