Controversial PZC Appointment Goes to Public Vote in Deep River
The past two Board of Selectman (BOS) meetings have been wrought with controversy, with numerous several residents voicing their concerns about the selection of Planning & Zoning Commission (PZC) volunteers. At the center of the clash is the BOS decision to appoint former Deep River zoning enforcement officer Cathie Jefferson as an alternate to the PZC and not reappoint long-time PZC commission member Jane Samuels.
At the Dec. 10 BOS meeting, more than 30 town residents attended, some stating that since Jefferson was the former zoning enforcement officer, she should not be considered for appointment as an alternate on the commission for which she so recently worked.
First Selectman Angus McDonald remained steadfast in his decision to appoint Jefferson to the commission, noting that she is highly qualified for the position.
“I can not think of anyone who is more qualified to fill this vacancy than Cathie Jefferson,” McDonald said.
McDonald’s colleagues were less confident about the move.
“Cathie served the town well,” said Selectman Jim Olson, though he noted “there were ups and downs. I personally feel that she is too much of a hot potato right now to be appointed to the Planning & Zoning Commission. Ultimately, maybe, she can be on the commission, but right now, the new zoning enforcement officer [Julie Pudem] needs to get her feet underneath her first.”
He added, “I hear what everyone is saying and I find it difficult to recommend her at the present time.”
Selectman Duane Gates also initially passed on recommending Jefferson.
“Cathie is very qualified for the position and she has a done a good job for the town, but with all the turmoil going on, I am not in a position tonight to move her forward,” he said.
McDonald stated that he respectfully disagreed with the other two selectmen about the matter.
“I think you have made a bad decision,” said McDonald. “There is no one in town more qualified.”
McDonald also apologized to Samuels for the way in which she found out about the decision involving her future participation on the commission.
“Jane, I apologize for not getting in touch with you,” said McDonald. “I made attempts to contact you before I left for vacation, but I should have made sure I got in touch with you before the meeting.”
He was referring to the Nov. 26 BOS meeting; Samuels found out just prior to that meeting that the BOS intended to appoint someone else for the commission.
Samuels did not accept the apology and stated, “I respect the BOS and their right to make an appointment for the Planning & Zoning Commission. I am disappointed with how my removal from the commission was conducted. I have been on the commission as a volunteer for almost 20 years, following in the footsteps of my mother. I hope when you let someone go in the future it is not done in the same way.”
Ultimately, at the end of the meeting, after input from the audience of citizens, the BOS decided that although the group of citizens at the meeting strongly opposed of Jefferson’s appointment to the commission, that group did not necessarily reflect the feelings of the entire town. Gates and McDonald voted to approve Jefferson's appointment, moving the matter to vote at the town meeting by way of paper ballot.
The town meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020 at the town hall auditorium at 6:30 p.m.
“I stand behind my appointment and we will bring it to the town and see what it has to say at a town meeting,” said McDonald.
This marks the second Planning & Zoning Commission appointment to cause controversy this year. A move to appoint Jonathan Kastner, who had served on the commission for several years, including as chair, from an alternate to a full position was met with opposition, largely due to his role as town hall assistant under McDonald, who also has had development proposals coming before the commission. (At press time, McDonald had no applications submitted.) That matter was also decided by town vote on Jan. 8, where Kastner’s appointment was approved 42 to 35.
Editor's note: An earlier version of this story reported Duane Gates's early reluctance to appoint Cathie Jefferson but not his eventual vote to appoint that enabled the matter to go to a public vote. This version also clarifies that Angus McDonald does not currently have any applications before the Planning & Zoning Commission and that Jane Samuels did not accept McDonald's apology.