Tonight was the fifth (and final) time over the past half-dozen years that I was rejected as a volunteer for the St. Albans City Planning Commission.
I’ve gotten used to the drill by now. All of the candidates are called into the City Council meeting to be interviewed before a vote is taken to fill however many seats are vacant. This time there were two seats and four candidates.
I always know that the other candidates will get soft-balled with easy questions, but when my turn comes up I will be pummeled with questions around whether or not I have an “agenda” in volunteering.
As if the real estate agent with developers in the family is unlikely to have an agenda; or the Main St. restaurant owner who is transforming his physical premises couldn’t have an agenda.
But no, those questions are reserved for me because no one has an agenda more dangerous to the public good than someone who consistently advocates for sustainable planning policies.
It’s always been irritating; but this time took the cake.
Why was I the only candidate who was asked for my position on eminent domain?
I answered that I thought it was never a good idea and should only be resorted to in the most extreme circumstances of essential public need, because there is nearly always a way to negotiate your way around an impasse.
In other words, I was honest. It’s unlikely the other candidates would think differently, but we’ll never know because THEY WERE NEVER ASKED.
One council member even asked me if I would make decisions based on my opinions! That’s right; this guy actually thinks there is no place for opinions in the decision making process. Maybe he favors a ouija board or the I Ching?
No one seemed to even be interested in whether or not the other candidates had “opinions.”
After the interviews were concluded, when it was time to take a vote, one of the Council members actually said that I probably had more knowledge than everyone in the room, BUT…
Then there was a lot of rationalizing about how Sue would always be there; always show up for meetings, no matter what; always lend her perspective from the sidelines, etc…
They lavished high praise on me for my school spirit, scholastic achievement and perfect attendance…or the municipal equivalent there of. Then they said again that I would ALWAYS BE THERE!
In short, they didn’t need to give me a place at the table because I would always be lurking on the perimeter, willing to accept the crumb of opportunity extended for “public comment.”
So, they voted to seat the two least objectionable candidates, rejecting another; and never even put my name to a vote. Neither new planner has any experience whatsoever with planning issues or even a familiarity with the system.
The City planner told me before the vote that, if I wasn’t chosen, there would always be another time, another way to serve.
‘Heard that one before, too. Four times.
But that’s it for me. I understand now how little value the Council members place on my participation.
For years I’ve read editorials imploring people to volunteer to serve on City boards and commissions. Often it seemed they were beating the bushes to find people to volunteer.
Some of the “volunteers” I’ve sat with for interviews didn’t even seem to know what the job entails. Even tonight, one of the candidates wasn’t absolutely certain he had the time to serve.
But he’s in and I’m out…once again.
I can’t say I’m heartbroken. Indignant, for sure; but heartbroken? Certainly not!
If the City Council doesn’t realize that my time is valuable, I certainly do. I told them that they could strike me permanently off of their lists because I am through with interviews for voluntary positions for which I will never be deemed suitable.
That will make many people happy, I am sure; and it will leave me with a whole lot more liberty to say and write exactly what I think.
Win-win.
Were you ever?
Participation in local government does require you to be congenial.
It seems that you are being perceived to be antagonistic.
Being honest is most often seen as such.
The question is:
What is the best way to participate in our local democratic government to most effectively promote honesty and openness?
“And World Peace.” Did you forget to say World Peace, Sue? World Peace is important in City Planning, as we all know. Next time bring a picture of you hugging a building. If it were a WalMart building, you’d be in. I love how the local assholes turn marginalizing into some kind of But we love you, and things will get better line. Or, maybe they were ‘complimenting’ you on being so ‘over-qualified’ for the seat. Sounds like you had to go through what black folks went through in the South decades ago in order to get registered to vote. Did they ask you to name all the past members of the Planning Commission going back to 1959?
It sounds as though this process is fundamentally broken.
As you may know, I’ve served on both the Planning Commission and Development Review Board in my community for many years. Currently, as Chair of the DRB, our process for selection of new volunteers allows me to participate in the “interview” for prospective candidates that are applying to fill vacancies on the DRB and/or Planning Commission. I’ve participated in many interviews along with the chair of our Planning Commission, our City Manager and a designated member of the City Council. We then, collectively, make our recommendations to the entire City Council and they make the appointment.
From the “Board Openings” section of the City of St. Albans website it appears there is (was?) one opening on the City’s Planning Commission and Design Advisory Board, and one opening along with two “alternate seats” on the City’s Development Review Board (DRB).
If, as you state, you were applying for the Planning Commission and Design Advisory Board and not the DRB, then I’d say it’s possible that the City Council has erred egregiously in not appointing you. It’s possible they’re threatened as a result of your vocal participation in the past, but I believe it’s as likely that you’re being denied the opportunity to participate because your City Council lacks a basic understanding of the fundamentally different functions these two boards serve.
As you know, DRB’s are deemed to be “quasi-judicial” (by Vermont State Statute) which means that the decisions reached by the board are supposed to support a “finding of facts” based on the City’s “Land Development Regulations”, and the City Council-adopted “City Plan”. Because of this, it is important to ensure that DRB members don’t have an “agenda” in volunteering. While there is often room for different interpretations of what these regulations allow or require, the question I try to keep top-of-mind is, what do the Land Development Regulations permit and has the applicant met these conditions?
Conversely, Planning Commissions are purposely visionary in nature because they are tasked with creating a vision for the future of the community. They achieve this primarily by creating an updated City Plan every five years as well as ensuring that the City’s Land Development Regulations comport with the vision set forth in the Plan. To me that allows members of the Planning Commission to have disparate ideas and thoughts regarding the future of our communities. In other words, the Planning Commission is precisely the place for people with opinions, as long as they allow others members of the board and the community, at large, to present alternative views. A representative government ought to encourage people with views that aren’t represented to participate, especially since the City Council is the elected body of representation that is charged (again, via statute) with conducting a public process when adopting the City Plan and/or Regulations. Practically, what that means is the threat they perceive you to be were you to be appointed isn’t a threat at all. It’s participation. It means we have to listen to our neighbors, even those with whom we disagree.
Unfortunately, it sounds as though your City Council doesn’t support participation out of fear and possibly ignorance. And, unfortunately for you, your best recourse is to slam down the City Council door by running, or supporting people who “get this” to run for a seat at their table.
Good luck, my friend.