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Public asks commissioner Brennan to recuse from Jacob Anderson items; no motion brought
Summary
During public comment a resident alleged Commissioner Jane Brennan had demonstrated bias and sought her recusal from agenda items involving Jacob Anderson; the chair and staff said the allegations were not submitted in time and no motion to recuse was made or voted on.
A member of the public used the planning commission's public-comment period to ask the chair to require Commissioner Jane Brennan to recuse herself from agenda items involving applicant Jacob Anderson, alleging predetermination, demonstrated bias and inconsistent treatment of similarly situated property owners.
The commenter stated that Brennan had previously participated, voted, and acted in ways that showed a fixed position and referenced conduct on the record at a prior hearing. "Commissioner Brennan has previously participated in and voted on the same matter... Taken together, this establishes predetermination and bias," the speaker said. The requester asked the chair to rule on the recusal request before deliberation and to enter the basis for the ruling into the public record.
The chair and town staff responded that the allegations had not been submitted in time for investigation during the meeting and that recusal can occur voluntarily by the commissioner or by a motion from the body; absent a motion, the commission would proceed with agenda business. A commissioner later summarized that a public allegation of bias does not itself require recusal without a motion or voluntary withdrawal and the meeting proceeded to other items. No motion to force recusal was made and no vote on recusal occurred.
The record shows the complaint entered the meeting record during public comment and that the commission documented the pathway for recusal as voluntary or by motion.
