Committee reappoints Reinard Cross to Historic Preservation Commission, schedules interviews and flags transit-board residency

The Bloomington City interview committee voted to recommend that Reinard Cross be reappointed to the Historic Preservation Commission and agreed to invite Cassie Shelton and James Hutcherson for interviews.

Council members said Cross's application is on file and noted he has served on the commission since 2020. Chair Sydney Zul moved to recommend his appointment to seat C1; the committee approved the recommendation by voice vote.

Separately, the committee moved and approved scheduling interviews for Cassie Shelton and James Hutcherson for Historic Preservation Commission vacancies. Members confirmed Shelton's address falls inside city limits and discussed Hutcherson's background in history and park interpretation as adding a different perspective to the commission.

During the same meeting members raised a concern about Bloomington Transit board chair James McCclary, saying he reportedly lists Florida as a primary residence while owning Bloomington property. Council members asked that the mayor's office or the appointing office check where McCclary declares his primary residence and whether that affects his service; the committee did not take formal action on the matter during the meeting.

The committee also discussed broader commission staffing and liaison roles; members noted Mayor Thompson's recent non-reappointments to some boards, the presence of a county appointee and an Indiana University appointee on certain commissions, and scheduling for upcoming interviews.

A deputy clerk will follow up to coordinate interview scheduling and the committee plans to forward its reappointment recommendation to the full council for final action.