ZBA stalled until new members found

NORTH EAST — The town’s Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) is in need of some new members. That much was apparent at its last meeting Thursday, April 15, when only two ZBA members appeared — not enough for the board to reach a quorum and therefore even hold the meeting — thus sending the applicants on the agenda home empty-handed. It was the second consecutive month that the board met without a quorum.

“It’s not fair to the applicants, especially at this time of year when everybody is anxious to get their approvals so they can begin their projects,� said ZBA Chairwoman Julie Schroeder. “But our hands are tied. We can’t conduct a meeting without a quorum.�

In the zoning board’s case, three of the board’s five members must be present to have a quorum.

“Last week we had to cancel and we had a full agenda,� Schroeder said. “One of the applications was for changes in the signage at CVS, and the person representing them was from Indianapolis. They had to know a day in advance [about the schedule]. We were able to let them know, thankfully. When people have engineers and attorneys, it’s not fair to them not to let them know in plenty of time.

“Applicants, I wouldn’t say they’re complaining,� she added. “But I know they’re not happy. I think what usually happens with these things is it’s the people opposed to these projects that usually get upset if we don’t have a full quorum. There’s so much red tape involved already.�

The ZBA is having hardships because it has lost a couple of members. About 10 months ago Diana Paine resigned because of time issues and just a few weeks ago Mike Rindsberg handed in his resignation.

“It’s a good feeling to serve on a committee like that, and I did it for a long time, but it was time for me to pass it on to someone else,� Rindsberg said. “There was no ill feeling, and I would promote it to anyone interested. The zoning board is important to the community and it needs good people.�

 ZBA member Chip Barrett agrees. He was the only member who appeared with Schroeder at those two meetings recently and he said he’s stymied as to why other residents haven’t volunteered to be on the board.

“You don’t have to have a whole lot of qualifications. There’s training we get once a year, or more if you want, you have to understand a little about the law, and have a little time to volunteer,� he said. “I find it really interesting. We don’t have a lot of leeway, we just follow the law and that’s how we interpret things.

“We really need people on the board,� Barrett added. “We don’t have a big backlog now, but if we don’t do something soon, we will. [Losing members] puts a small town like ours in a little predicament. If somebody wants to build something, we want them to be able to do it.�

Schroeder echoed that sentiment and said that now is the time when bigger projects are making their way onto the board’s agendas.

“Now some larger proposals are in front of us and they require a little more thought, work and research,� she said. “So we should have a full board [to review the applications].

“We never had this problem before, that’s what’s so unusual,� Schroeder said, adding the problem could stem from a myriad of issues. “Whether it’s the younger generation, or people have no time, or because it’s a responsibility and people don’t want to be tied down and working so hard, but it’s time for the younger people to take over. Hopefully we can solve it. There’s got to be somebody out there that’s willing to do it.�

On a brighter note, Schroeder said she has three prospective candidates who have contacted her about joining the ZBA; she’s hopeful they will be able to take over the vacant positions, including one that is pending. However, the chairwoman is still accepting resumes from residents who may be interested in joining the board; those can still be dropped off at the town clerk’s office at Town Hall.

Once the new members are chosen, they will still have to be formally appointed to the ZBA by the Town Board. Schroeder hopes that a special Town Board meeting will be held if necessary to expedite the process. ZBA meetings, meanwhile, are held the third Thursday of the month at Town Hall at 7 p.m.