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Manhattan board votes to remove planning commissioner after repeated absences
Summary
The Village Board of Manhattan authorized the removal of Planning and Zoning Commission member Bill Borgo after members said he missed six of the last 14 meetings and did not appear at a public hearing to respond.
The Village Board of Manhattan authorized the removal of Planning and Zoning Commission member Bill Borgo after board members said he missed six of the last 14 commission meetings and did not appear to address the board at a public hearing, the board’s president said.
Board members said the removal matter was brought forward because of Borgo’s attendance record and the chair’s view that “consistent attendance is a critical part of the role.” The board voted, by roll call, to approve authorization to remove Borgo from the Planning and Zoning Commission.
The board’s president opened the hearing and said a notice of intent to remove Borgo was sent on 05/13/2025 and that the Village Administrator had spoken with him the same day about the hearing. “He has missed six of the last 14 meetings,” the president said, and added that when he spoke with Borgo, Borgo said “he attends the important meetings.” The president also told the board, “If Mr. Borgo would like to address the board, now is the time to do so.” Borgo did not appear at the hearing.
Board members debated whether to give Borgo additional time to arrive and speak; the president explained the board could keep the public hearing open to allow that, but the board ultimately closed the hearing and proceeded to vote. The transcript records the result as the motion carrying; a detailed vote tally by member name was not specified in the public record provided.
A notice of intent to remove was delivered and the Village Administrator confirmed the notice and the offer that Borgo could address the board in open or closed session. The board also recorded on the public record that there were no public comments on the removal item before the hearing was closed and the vote taken.
The transcript does not state how the board will fill the resulting vacancy on the Planning and Zoning Commission or whether the board will take any further disciplinary steps. No ordinance or statute was cited in the public remarks on the record; the removal proceeded under the village’s internal appointment/removal procedures as presented to the board.
