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County board approves consent agenda including Zoning Board appointment despite public objections
Summary
At its Feb. 13 meeting the Livingston County Board approved its consent agenda, which included the appointment of Jerry McCarty to the Zoning Board of Appeals. Several board members and multiple public commenters said the timing and selection raised conflict-of-interest and process concerns.
The Livingston County Board voted Feb. 13 to approve a consent agenda that included the appointment of Jerry McCarty to the county Zoning Board of Appeals.
The vote came after an unsuccessful attempt to remove the appointment from the consent package; the board approved the bundled consent items by roll call, 13 ayes to 4 nays.
Board Chair Carley introduced the agenda item and asked McCarty to speak; McCarty told the board he is from Forrest, Illinois, has served on the volunteer fire department for 44 years and runs a crane-trucking business he has operated for 25 years. "I've been around the county my whole life in Forest," he said during his brief introduction.
Supporters of separating the appointment said it was too late to remove it after a motion to approve the agenda had already been made and seconded. Board member Manker moved to approve the consent agenda; Haig seconded. When a board member asked to split the Regional Planning Commission reappointment from the Zoning Board appointment, the chair said the motion was already on the floor and could not be re-opened for amendment.
Public commenters raised objections during the public-comment period, saying the timing and choice of appointee were inappropriate while the Zoning Board is hearing a high-profile wind- and solar-related case. Resident Linda Rose said she did not vote for the consent agenda "because I was not voting for Mr. McCarty to be appointed to the zoning board of appeals." Rose noted she opposed the decision in part because the board did not reappoint the sitting ZBA chair, whom she identified as having served nearly 16 years: "Her term is up ... chairman Carley said he's not going to reappoint her, although she has served responsibly for nearly 16 years."
Another commenter, identified as Becca, called the appointment "imprudent and bad practice in the middle of a highly provocative hearing" and said longer service and training for ZBA members matter for due process. Tom Kolasak of Dwight Township described the optics he said he observed at past hearings, saying board members and ZBA members were "interacting with ZBA members in an inappropriate manner," and urged the board to prioritize public input.
The consent agenda as approved also included routine items: approval of the bills, the reappointment of D. Woodburn to the Regional Planning Commission (reappointment), and acceptance of annual reports from the Gridley Fire Protection District and the Moyer District Library. The board clerk announced the consent vote tally as 13 ayes and 4 nays.
Board members and public commenters urged reconsideration of the appointment after the current ZBA hearing concludes; one public commenter said she would reconsider her position "should the chairman present this appointment after the current hearing has concluded." The board did not reverse the appointment at the meeting.
The appointment and the objections occurred amid broader public concerns about the independence of land-use boards and the timing of appointments while active hearings are pending.
