Ashford planning commission trims officer‑election threshold, elects new executive slate

The Ashford Planning and Zoning Commission on Feb. 9 voted to amend its bylaws to lower the attendance threshold required to hold elections for officers from nine regular or alternate members to six (two‑thirds of voting members). The commission then added the election of officers to the agenda and filled the three leadership posts.

Commissioners debated the change during a discussion of Article VI, which governs the election of officers. Commissioner Mark Schubel proposed lowering the required presence for elections to six voting members to avoid repeated delays when vacancies or absences left the full slate short of the existing 9‑member requirement. Jerry seconded the motion; the commission adopted the change by voice vote (the chair reported the result as "nine to zero").

Members also discussed related edits — clarifying that officers serve until the regular meeting following the next municipal election rather than a biennial schedule, and adding language to allow current officers to continue serving if the commission is temporarily unable to meet the attendance threshold.

After approving the bylaw change, the commission moved to elections. Mark Schubel was nominated and elected recording secretary by voice vote. Janet Bellamy was nominated and elected vice chair. Jeff Silvermith was nominated and elected chair by voice vote; several members indicated abstentions during the roll of voice votes but the chair declared the motions carried.

The commission said staff will return with revised bylaw language to incorporate the agreed clarification about terms and vacancy procedures before placing a final text on a future agenda.

Agenda and procedural notes: the commission voted to add the elections to new business during the same meeting after discussing the proposed bylaw changes. The vote tallies were conducted by voice; individual roll‑call names for each "I" vote were not recorded in the meeting transcript.