The Council pledged to be independent of political considerations.
A qualified candidate notwithstanding, in an election year, it appears that the Council has deliberately avoided its obligation to staff the vacant ZBA seat for eleven weeks.
Are they waiting for a sign, like a "Burning Bush?"
Well, it is now 12 weeks past that July 18th date in which the position was to be filled.
With one extremely viable candidate ready and willing and no one chosen for the position
Georgia L Schlager
Still no resolution to fill a ZBA position vacant since June 2017.
Does this mean:
That the position is not as important as it was sold to be by Supervisor Coleman and Council member John Abraham in July when they spoke on behalf of a person who wrote a letter of intent and then withdrew it in July when it was announced that the job had to be posted.
That this is but another political ****storm because another candidate with good credentials sent in a letter on intent with a good resume but was not found acceptable; most likely because of her ties with another political party (Conservative Party) that refused Abraham its party endorsement - and where she had no decision voting power?
That filling this position will not happen until after the November election takes place to not influence voter choice. How strange that the Democratic Party fails to get one of their own to submit a letter of interest; one with qualifications better than Mrs. Lemaster. But after the election if all goes well for the incumbents the board can appoint anyone they want. Councilman Ruffino did write a resolution to consider appointing Mrs. Lemaster but didn't put it on the agenda because he was told outright by the other four board members that they wouldn't second a motion to consider it. Imagine another supposed Conservative on the town board and she threw a fellow Conservative under the bus by at least seconding the motion and let it die for lack of approval votes. It's election time and this doesn't seem to bother any of the candidates or their parties.
Now that the election is out of the way – well almost – how long do you think it will take for the current board to come up with a candidate of its liking (patronage) to fill a ZBA position that has been vacant since June? Or would the right thing be to wait until it is determined whether two Republican/Conservative Party election winners will fill the town board seats in January 2018.
Even if that happens it would not assure that Debbie Lemaster (a registered Conservative, the only individual who has submitted a letter of intent and follow-up resume (that qualifies her for the position) to apply for the position would be chosen. Councilman Ruffino had sought to put on a resolution to approve Lemaster but was rebuffed when he found he would not get a second – not even from a registered Conservative or supposed ‘blank’ (independent) sitting on the board. They were endorsed by the Democratic Party and are there to do the bidding of Supervisor Coleman. How sad!
Lemaster was told by Supervisor Coleman that she does not possess enough environmental experience and that is why she is not being considered for the position. That is a must requirement for the Planning Board, not the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Such reasoning gives politics the dirty name it deserves!
Politics is politics, and many times these "board" positions serve as a spring-board for the promising, a post-career dumping ground for worn-out politicos to keep them involved, a channel for pension reasons, and/or a rehab program for defeated candidates.
If Abraham would be appointed to the ZBA, it would imitate what the Democrats did with Mrs. Coleman's father after his 1971 defeat for Town Board. He was appointed, if memory serves, to the Town Planning Board to await events.
That wait was not a long one. The Republican who ousted Metz in 1971, David Sisti, served only one year on the Town Board. He resigned in late 1972, because he moved out of Lancaster.
Guess who ran in 1973 to fill the vacancy?
Outside of that one year hiatus, it seems as though the Metz family has been blessed, almost un-interrupted, with the goodwill of the Lancaster voters since November 5, 1963, seventeen days before John Kennedy went to Dallas.
That, is a VERY LONG time.
A political dynasty does not survive that long just by political instinct, or knowledge of the "gossipy" weeds. Such a political dynasty survives because it has applied Machiavelli, and understands the broad concept of POWER.
Last edited by mark blazejewski; November 10th, 2017 at 10:07 AM.
In my Town the ZBA has nothing to do with critiquing the Town. The ZBA does three things: Votes yes or no on AREA Variances, votes Yes or No on USE Variances, interprets code when a property owner disagrees with a CEO decision. In some towns they also work with Special Use permits.
The above is opinion & commentary, I am exercising my 1st Amendment rights as a US citizen. Posts are NOT made with any malicious intent.
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