Raisin Twp. to appoint Planning Commission members

Before the Raisin Township special meeting on Monday, Jan. 5, Raisin Township Supervisor Jay Cavanaugh, township attorney David Lacasse and township clerk and board trustee Betty Holdridge met to discuss board appointments — specifically in regards to the planning commission. Lacasse communicated to the board at the special meeting that four members of the planning commission will either have to be reappointed or replaced with new appointments, while the fifth position, which became vacant when Raisin Township Supt. Jim Palmer was appointed to his current superintendent position, will have to be replaced. “We’re not going to get into all the reasons of how we found ourselves here,” said Lacasse. According to the Planning Enabling Act, when positions are not reappointed, the current members continue serving until they are either reappointed or replaced, though terms are continuous. Dale Witt and Cheryl Benham, who were last appointed at the end of 2010 had their current three-year terms begin in 2013, meaning that they will either have to be reappointed for the remaining two years, or replaced for the remainder of their terms at the end of 2016. Bob Utter and Jimmy Coulburn’s terms ended at the conclusion of 2014. Reappointments or replacement appointments will have their terms run to the end of 2017. In accordance with the Planning Enabling Act, one third of the planning commission is appointed every year. Trustee Larry Crittenden is the board representative and serves the length of his board of trustees’ term, which ends with the 2016 election. At the end of 2012, the board voted to increase the number of members on the planning commission from five to seven. One position was Palmer’s, which will need a new appointment, and the other position is currently filled by Mike Bartolo, his term ending at the end of 2015. In order to appoint new planning commission members, four board members must vote in support of the appointments, regardless of how many board members are present at the time of the vote. “These positions need to be filled and you all have an opportunity to work together as a board to get these positions filled,” Lacasse said. “Regardless of what may have happened in the past, this is where we find ourselves and in order to become compliant with the Planning Enabling Act, this is what needs to happen.” Palmer suggested getting an appointment to replace his position on the next, regular meeting agenda, scheduled for Monday, Jan. 12. “My recommendation is to fill these positions as soon as reasonably possible,” Lacasse said, adding that having six members on the commission “is problematic.” Existing members can continue to serve until reappointed or replaced so the commission can continue functioning. Cavanaugh said that he will be presenting a commission appointment to the board at the meeting Monday, Jan. 12. In the advent the recommendation isn’t approved, Cavanaugh said he does have a backup appointment.“I feel pretty confident on Monday night we will have Mr. [Jim] Palmer’s position filled,” Cavanaugh added. “I think Dave [Lacasse] hit the nail on the head that this is an opportunity for us to essentially be forced to work together and come to an agreement. We’re going to have to compromise because that’s what we are actually paid to do.”