Erie advisory board recommends reappointing three members, ranks applicants for remaining seats

The Erie Historic Preservation Advisory Board on March 23 voted to recommend reappointment of three incumbent members and to rank additional applicants as alternates, a move members said will ensure the town has replacements if selected by other boards.

The board’s chair opened the meeting and confirmed a quorum before members discussed that the agenda packet circulated Friday had not included application attachments. After on-screen review and discussion, the board moved to submit its ranked recommendations to the town clerk for a council resolution scheduled for April 28.

Melanie moved to recommend Deandrea, Alex and Rachel as the board’s top three choices; Cesar seconded the motion. Chair Mike Springer called the question and members approved the recommendation unanimously. “That’s approved unanimously,” the chair announced after the vote.

Board members then nominated Kelsey Bebo as the fourth-choice recommendation and recorded alternates in case a candidate is selected by another board (planning commission historically takes first choice on overlapping applicants). The board formally moved that Casey Kippel be the first alternate and later nominated Ian McKnight as the subsequent alternate; members said Tanya McKnight was ranked lower because she listed planning as a higher preference.

Members discussed process details, including Michelle’s guidance that applicants present in the room should leave during deliberations to avoid the appearance of favoritism and the clerk’s role in preparing the resolution. The chair emphasized the practical need to provide multiple backups because applicants sometimes accept other appointments, so the clerk and council can proceed without repeated vacancy cycles.

The board also agreed to submit their completed ranking sheets to the town clerk after the meeting. The recommendation is advisory; the town council will act on appointments at its April meeting.

What’s next: the town clerk will include the board’s ranked list in a resolution to be considered by the Erie Town Council on April 28. If any recommended candidate declines, the clerk will move to the next alternate on the submitted ranking.