ZBA has vacancies no longer

NORTH EAST —  After nearly a year of hunting and hoping, the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) is finally fully populated. That’s right, the ZBA now has five volunteer members – making it complete for the first time since Diana Paine resigned last year.

Since then two other members, Mike Rinsdberg and Robert Thomma, also resigned, leaving the board in a quandary as it tried to meet regularly but did so without a quorum, making it impossible for it to conduct official business.

ZBA Chair Julie Schroeder and member Chip Barrett toughed it out, and now welcome new members John Merwin (a former Town Board member), along with Patti Lynch (a village Planning Board member) and George Kaye to the board table.

Town Supervisor Dave Sherman said although there seemed to be little interest in the positions for some time, that all changed in recent weeks.

“The last set of candidates came in with submissions last week, and basically we had five candidates for two positions,â€� he said, noting that Merwin had been chosen a couple of weeks earlier.  “We were looking for people to serve on the ZBA for nearly a year, I would say. I’m happy that the board is going to be fully constituted. I realize some folks are totally new to government, or at least to the ZBA, and that there will be a learning curve, but I think everybody is willing to apply themselves and learn about the job and will do a good one.â€�

The zoning board generally meets once monthly, usually on the third Thursday of the month, although that is subject to change and is dependent on there being applications before the board to be acted upon.

“The Town Board is very thankful for all the interest expressed to it, and the people in the community reading about this who decided to step up to the plate and submit their names, we’re always thankful that folks have an interest,� Sherman said. “I would like to send greetings on to them for making their interest known.�

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