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Commissionors raise governance concerns after chair's email; discussion to be continued
Summary
Vice Chair read a July 15 email from Chair T. Rettburg that she said limited discussion and created impartiality concerns; commissioners agreed the email merits further discussion and may require bylaw review.
Vice Chair C. Shanelaris told the Conservation Commission on July 20 that an internal email from Chair T. Rettburg to outside counsel raised significant governance questions and suggested the chair acted to limit independent consideration of the Vernon Family Farm site plan.
"Receiving this as the Vice Chair was unexpected and disappointing and raises serious concerns about the integrity of this commission," Shanelaris said while reading the message. She urged the commission to revisit bylaws and to discuss the chair's conduct at a later meeting.
Chair T. Rettburg recused himself from the Vernon Family Farm vote; later in the meeting he told members that town counsel disclosed a conflict and that alternate counsel had been offered. Rettburg emphasized the need for legal support and said future legal expenses would be paid from the commission budget.
Commissioners agreed the email and related procedural questions required a fuller conversation outside the VFF-specific action, and members signaled intent to place governance and bylaw items on a future agenda.
