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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 11/15/1972CITY GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 15, 1972 The South Burlington City Government Committee held a meeting in the Conference Room of the City Hall on Wednesday, November 15, 1972 at 7:30 P.M. Mr. Maher, Chairman, called the meeting to order. MEMBERS PRESENT Mr. Frederick Maher, Chairman; Ronald Schmucker, Nan Frymoyer, Dennis Smith and Robert Irish. MEMBERS ABSENT Mr. Lubomir A. D. Dellin, Charles E. Denison, Wayne W. Jameson, Richard B. Sharpe and Mr. Harold Nolting. DISCUSSION ON COMPOSITION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION The City Government Committee discussed the merits of having a council member serve on the Planning Commission for the purposes of liason and after due consideration made the following statements: 1. Perhaps there was a time when such liason was necessary and desirable, but at present proper minutes of the Planning Commission meetings would be the best source for transmitting accurately the business conducted to the Council. 2. The present Charter provides for the removal of any or all Planning Commission members by the Council. 3. In the Charter, Chapter 3, it states that "school directors shall hold no other school district or city office except as provided otherwise in this charter ......" "All councilmen shall be elected at large, and shall hold no other city or school district office except as provided otherwise in this charter." Although other provisions have been made for the councilmen, it is the intent of the Charter that they should hold no other office. 4. The theme of municipal government in Chittenden County is that there be no overlap in membership of boards (with voting rights). 5. It seems to us rationally unworkable for a person to be true to the role of Planning Commissioner without any carryover as council member and vice-versa. The dual role creates undue pressure on one individual to serve both roles independently. 6. Dual membership exerts a double vote; certain interests will be overly represented. 7. Since Councilmen are also members of the Board of Civil Authority, to add a third rather time-consuming job is contrary to the spirit of part- time participation in government. Mr. Smith proposed that the above be submitted to the City Council at its meeting of November 20, 1972. Mrs. Frymoyer seconded and the proposal (motion) passed unanimously. DISCUSSION ON CHANGING THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION The City Government Committee discussed changing the number of members on the Planning Commission and considered the following points: 1. Broader representation of the community was a desirable goal, although increasing the number of members might be more unwieldy, efficiency was not a desirable goal for a Planning Commission. 2. Divergence of opinions and perspectives is desirable. With seven (7) members, hopefully you would have a minimum of five (5) deciding on any issue. 3. If there were only 6 members, it could possibly create a tie. 4. In two of the neighboring communities who have 8 and 9 members, they questioned the workability and unwieldiness of the large number; there is a point of diminishing returns when the size of the membership increases too much and the Board becomes a debating body unable to reach decisions. 5. Presently each Commissioner is appointed for a 5 year term, one is appointed annually; the 5 year term was used to achieve continuity, with only one change each year. With 7, you could have 4 appointed for 4 year terms, 3 for 3 year terms. Every year two new members would be appointed. A newly organized Council each year would appoint 2 members and in this way a change of policy could be reflected. Basically in the past, very few if any 5 year terms have been served to completion. With the suggested 4 year terms and 3 year terms continuity could be achieved with shorter terms, with fewer resignations. Mr. Schmucker recommended (moved) that the Planning Commission be enlarged to 7 members and their election would be for four 4 year terms for 4, and three members for 3 year terms. Also we recommend that appointments be made with the widest geographic representation. Mr. Irish seconded the motion which passed unanimously. Respectfully submitted, NEXT MEETING DEC. 6, 1972 7:30 P.M. CITY HALL Nan Frymoyer, Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.