Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Appointments topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council pauses ZBA appointments after questions about prior process and minority‑representation rules
Summary
Two Zoning Board of Appeals appointments were held for legal review after staff and councilors raised concerns that a prior appointment may not have been handled as an election‑year vacancy, potentially implicating minority‑representation rules; council will consult the town attorney and Secretary of State before acting.
During the appointments section of the Dec. 16 meeting, councilors confirmed several board and commission appointments but withheld two Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) appointments pending legal review.
Chair Talbot explained that a prior appointment to fill an elected ZBA seat in 2024 may not have been presented at last year's municipal election as required. That carried the risk, councilors said, of creating a vacancy sequence that could affect the balance of party or minority representation on the five-seat panel.
Councilor Velleber and others urged caution and asked town counsel and the Secretary of State's office to confirm the correct procedure. Councilor Velleber said seating a replacement now could "get around" minority representation rules and set an unwanted precedent. Town staff said the town clerk raised the concern and the matter has already been discussed with the Secretary of State's office.
In the meantime the council voted on and approved several other appointments (Chesporkot Health District, Public Safety Commission, and others) while holding the contested ZBA seat(s) for the January meeting so Attorney D'Onofrio can advise the council on the proper remedy and sequence of appointments.
The council directed staff to follow up with the town attorney and return with written guidance before acting on the held appointments.
