The Fort Scott Board of Appeals elected Robert Nelson as chairman and Brian Rhodes as vice chair and confirmed Lisa, the Planning Commission secretary, to serve as the Board of Appeals' secretary.

The action puts the planning commission's secretary role into the board's administrative channel as Article 25 requires the planning commission secretary to serve as the board of appeals secretary; board members also set staggered member terms and a general meeting cadence.

During the organizational portion of the meeting, a board member moved to elect Robert Nelson chairman; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. A subsequent motion to elect Brian Rhodes vice chair was moved, seconded and approved by roll call (Brian Rhodes, Denise Doherty, Robert Nelson, Josh Jones and Matthew Witt recorded voting in favor during the roll call on that item). The board also voted to keep Lisa (Planning Commission secretary) as the board secretary.

Members discussed staggering terms so that some members serve three-year terms and others four-year terms. The board designated Robert Nelson and Josh Jones to serve three-year terms; remaining members were assigned four-year terms so that membership turnover is staggered. Board members agreed meetings will be held on an as-needed basis, with 4:00 p.m. cited as a convenient start time for most members and a consensus to generally avoid Wednesdays.

Members also discussed who should prepare the written legal findings that accompany decisions. City staff and board members noted Article 25 requires a written legal reason to be issued with decisions; the board suggested that Robert Nelson (who attends planning commission meetings) draft the written findings for board decisions unless the board decides otherwise.

No formal action beyond the officer elections, secretary confirmation and assignment of term lengths was recorded. The board moved on to an advertised public hearing later in the agenda.

Looking ahead, the board left the meeting schedule flexible; members will be polled as necessary when appeals or variances require adjudication.