SPECIAL MEETING   Thursday, FEBRUARY 7th, 2008

EAST LYME PLANNING COMMISSION

MINUTES

PRESENT:                 Lisa Picarazzi, Chairman, Francine Schwartz, Secretary, Paul Dagle, Mike Bowers, Tom Perron, Chris Sandford

ALSO PRESENT:       Jack Hogan, Ex-Officio

                                 Barbara Birmingham, RTC

                                 Meg Parulis, Planning Director

ABSENT:                   Sandy Mulholland, Alternate

1.  Call to Order

Chairman Picarazzi called this Special Meeting of the Planning Commission to order at 7:07 PM.

Pledge of Allegiance

The Pledge was observed.

2.  Appointment of Alternate to fill vacancy of Donna Palumbo

Ms. Picarazzi asked if there were any public comments.

Bob Bulmer, 99 Lovers Lane said that Mr. McPherson was endorsed by the Republican Town Committee and that none of the others on the list are endorsed by the Republican Town Committee. He explained that Mr. McPherson has previously served on the Planning Commission and that they feel that he will be a welcome addition to it and asked that they honor the letter of endorsement from the Republican Town Committee.

Barbara Birmingham asked if all of the Commissioners have the letter from Mr. McPherson indicating his interest in serving on the Planning Commission and the letter from the Vice-Chairman of the Republican Town Committee endorsing Mr. McPherson for the open position. (Copies of all letters and submissions by interested people attached at end of Minutes) She noted that the vacancy is a Republican vacancy and that the Republican Town Committee had chosen and run Ms. Palumbo for the position and that they should be the one to also endorse her replacement. She asked that they honor the endorsement of Mr. McPherson as he has served in various capacities on the Planning Commission previously and would be an asset to them.     

Ms. Picarazzi said that she would open the floor for nominations.

Mr. Bowers said that he would like to have some discussion first and asked if they knew for certain that Ms. Palumbo has officially resigned.

Ms. Parulis said that yes, she has officially resigned.

Mr. Dagle asked if the Board of Selectmen at their meeting the previous evening appointed another person to the Planning Commission to fill the other vacancy that they had.

Ms. Parulis said yes, they had done so and that this is the vacancy that they have left to fill.

Mr. Bowers asked about the Board of Selectmen filling the position.

Mr. Dagle said that it was because the vacancy had lapsed beyond the 30 days and so they had filled it.

Ms. Picarazzi noted that they had a letter and resume from Drew Kenny who is unaffiliated; a letter of interest for the position from Nancy Kalal who is a Republican and a letter of interest from George McPherson who is also a Republican. She asked if that was all that they had.

Ms. Parulis said yes.

Ms. Picarazzi then asked if there is a resume from Mr. McPherson.

Ms. Birmingham said that she had copies of the letter of interest and the endorsement letter if they did not have them. She added that Mr. McPherson has served previously on this Commission.

Ms. Picarazzi asked how they could make a decision without further details.

Mr. Bowers asked if anyone on the Commission had served on it when Mr. McPherson was also on it.

Ms. Schwartz and Mr. Dagle said that they had.

Mr. Bowers asked them about Mr. McPherson as a previous Commission member.

Ms. Schwartz said that she knew him and had served with him and that he always came prepared and seemed to know about land use. She said that he was already on the Commission when she got on.

Mr. Dagle said that while he knew him that he was a ‘neophyte’ when George had already been on for many years. He recalled that he did come prepared and that he is obviously willing to step up to the plate. He continued that he does not know Mr. Kenny at all and that he only knew of Ms. Kalal from her attendance at some of their meetings.  

Mr. Perron explained that he likes the fact that Mr. McPherson has experience and that his concern is that they do not choose someone new who is going to feel overwhelmed and unable to keep up as they have a lot of things that need to be done. Mr. McPherson already knows what to expect and what will be expected of him.

Ms. Picarazzi called for nominations.

**MOTION (1)

Mr. Dagle moved to nominate George McPherson to fill the Alternate vacancy on the Planning Commission created by the resignation of Donna Palumbo.

Mr. Bowers seconded the motion.

**MOTION (2)

Ms. Picarazzi moved to nominate Drew Kenny to fill the Alternate vacancy on the Planning Commission created by the resignation of Donna Palumbo.

Mr. Bowers seconded the motion.

Ms. Picarazzi said that Ms. Parulis knows Mr. Kenny and that his resume seems to indicate that he would be a good match for the Commission.

Hearing no further nominations –

Ms. Picarazzi called for a vote on MOTION (1) – the nomination of George McPherson:

Vote:  4 – 1 – 1.  Motion passed for Mr. McPherson to fill the Alternate vacancy.

For:  Mr. Bowers, Mr. Dagle, Mr. Perron, Mr. Sandford

Against:  Ms. Picarazzi

Abstained:  Ms. Schwartz

3.  ADJOURNMENT

**MOTION (3)

Mr. Dagle moved to adjourn this Special Meeting of the East Lyme Planning Commission at 7:20 PM.

Ms. Schwartz seconded the motion.

VOTE:  6 – 0 – 0.   Motion passed.

Respectfully submitted,

Karen Zmitruk,

Recording Secretary