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On this occasion, the commission’s irresponsibility cost the town and its residents not just irritation and wasted time. The public hearing was advertised in this newspaper for two weeks, at a cost of $75.40 each week. That is $150.80 of public money wasted. Add to that the extra $150.80 which it will cost to advertise again for the rescheduled public hearing.
The wasted time and aggravation are bad enough. The waste of public money is worse.
The Planning Commission has important work to do — work which is too important to be left to people who lack sufficient time or interest to get involved.
The town desperately needs revisions to its subdivision ordinance. But if the planners are unable to gather for a meeting, when will it be done?
It is always difficult for small communities who rely on part-time, unpaid (or grossly underpaid) “volunteers” to serve on elected and appointed government bodies. But the county’s boards: supervisors, planning commission, zoning appeals, school board, water and sewer authority, seem to manage. The town’s council and architectural review board meet each month; and if meetings must be cancelled there is adequate notice well before the fact.
Why does the planning commission have so much trouble?
The council voted to expand the commission’s membership from five to seven members last year in an attempt to make quorums easier to attain. Last Wednesday’s performance indicates the council’s attempt has failed.
We’re not accusing the members of the commission of necessarily malicious behavior in missing the meeting. Several of the members travel extensively out of town, and last Wednesday they may not have been available. But if they can’t attend, they owe their fellow members the courtesy of informing someone of their absence, and turning over any papers which may be necessary for the meeting to someone who will be there.
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