Skowhegan Planning Board elects officers; discusses alternates and staffing

The Skowhegan Planning Board held organizational elections at the start of its meeting and filled the three officer positions by majority vote.

Board members nominated and elected a chairman, a vice chair and a secretary. Andrew Thorpe was nominated and seconded for secretary and was confirmed by the board. The board recorded no opposition during the roll-call-style raise-of-hands votes and the chair said, “We we have our offices.”

The board noted one regular member, Jeff, was absent and that Michelle was acting in his place. The chair reported two individuals have inquired about alternates and that those appointments will be decided by the town Selectmen at their next meeting.

Planning staff and board members also discussed internal staffing and meeting logistics. Staff said they will work to set clearer deadlines for application submissions so late filings do not force additional or longer meetings. The board discussed reducing its meeting schedule from twice monthly to once monthly with a standing cut-off for agenda items and possibly moving meeting start times (options discussed included 5:30 p.m. or 6 p.m.), but no formal change was adopted.

A board member described budget pressures that make longer or additional meetings costly because overtime for staff is billed to the Planning Department budget; staff noted the office currently budgets for two-hour meetings and that overtime can increase personnel cost. The board agreed to revisit meeting frequency and start time at a future session.

The meeting adjourned after the board completed administrative business and minutes approval.