Oak Harbor preservation commission elects Greg Lanza chair, Gideon Kaufman vice chair; approves 2026 schedule

At its March 26 meeting the Oak Harbor Historic Preservation Commission selected new leadership and ratified its proposed 2026 calendar.

A motion to nominate Greg Lanza for chair was made and seconded; the commission voted in favor. Gideon Kaufman was nominated and elected vice chair; during that vote one member indicated an abstention but the nomination passed. Commissioners discussed spreading leadership responsibilities and supporting one another in the coming year.

The commission also reviewed the proposed 2026 meeting schedule (meetings on odd‑numbered months) and approved it with one change: the November meeting date was moved from the usual late‑November slot to November 12 to avoid the Thanksgiving holiday. Staff said that the Arts Commission’s schedule (5:00 p.m.) will require time coordination on that date.

Procedural notes and votes: The record shows motions were moved, seconded and approved by voice votes. The minutes from the Sept. 25, 2025 meeting were placed before the body and approved earlier in the session. No roll‑call tallies with member names were entered in the transcript; results were recorded as voice votes and by‑consent.

What this means: Leadership elections are internal commission governance actions that set who will chair future meetings and liaise with staff and council. The schedule approval establishes meeting dates for public noticing and agendas; the November date change aims to avoid holiday conflicts.

Next steps: Officers will lead upcoming meetings, and staff will post the approved 2026 schedule and continue collecting member input on draft bylaw changes.