Volunteers step forward for Planning Board

MILLERTON — It’s been a less than a month since three Planning Board members resigned from their volunteer posts, leaving only two to hold down the fort. And since two does not make a quorum, it cannot make a board, which is why the village is scurrying to fill those vacant seats as quickly as possible. To that end, the Village Board interviewed five candidates for the three seats at its workshop meeting this past Monday evening.

“It’s nice to see this many volunteers come forward,� Mayor John Scutieri said. “Originally, it was a very trying and uncomfortable couple of days, but it’s been very flattering when people came through and wanted to sit in the positions. Planning, I would think, is fascinating work.�

Sitting on the Planning Board is also demanding. Members are required to clock in four hours worth of training, but newly appointed Planning Board Chairman John Gilmor said he thinks that’s not nearly enough.

“I really think to start out with the short courses are the way to go,� said Planning Board member Debbie Middlebrook, who added that there are options to take longer, more expensive training courses or shorter, less expensive training courses that give overviews of planning practices.

Past Planning Board Chairwoman Cathy Fenn said that a planner from the Dutchess County planning department would be willing to come to Millerton to offer basic training at no cost.

The training discussion soon led to a conversation about what the Planning Board provides to the community.

“There are so many things to look at in a site plan... that may seem a bit trivial, but in the long term will really affect the way the village looks,� Gilmor said. “It’s about how we can improve the way the village looks as a community.�

The three positions that need to be filled are for three different term lengths. One vacancy has one year left in the term; one vacancy has two years left; and one vacancy has four years left. The terms are usually five years, which allows for a member to be up for re-election every year.

Greg Lanphear, Carole Gribble,  Patti Lynch, Leo Flood and Dan Swift have stepped forward as candidates. Swift said he’s not an active candidate as he only turned out to volunteer if there were not enough applicants.

The Village Board interviewed each of the candidates for about five minutes, individually, in executive session. Although there were no decisions made on Monday, the board did say it will likely make its decisions in the next few days. It will then make an announcement at the next Village Board meeting, which will be in two weeks, on June 18, at 7 p.m., at Village Hall.

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