The city has appointed its first replacement commissioner to allow the planning commission to get back to work.
Following the mass resignation of five of Lafayette's seven planning commissioners as a result of the new stricter conflict of interest policies, the commission was left unable to function. The city council voted to reduce the number of commissioners from seven to five in the short term and has temporarily taken over the reigns as a planning commission.
Now, with the appointment of Greg Mason - a senior structural plans examiner - and the remaining two members, the commission will be up to three, enough to form a quorum.
City attorney Mala Subramanian advised the council that it is released of planning commission duties except for two cases it has already started on.
City Council Member Mike Anderson explained at the April 23 city council meeting that he and Mayor Don Tatzin, as members of the subcommittee, are holding ongoing interviews together with the two remaining commissioners, Gary Huisingh and Steven Bliss.
Anderson said that they are not eliminating any candidates at this point and that interviews would continue into May. However they had decided that if a uniquely qualified candidate presented it would be good to appoint them right away.
Anderson said that Mason had agreed to the new conflict of interest policy, explaining that he doesn't work in Lafayette.
Those interested in volunteering on the planning commission should go to the city website http://www.lovelafayette.org/city-hall/commissions-committees/planning-commission for an application form and for details of the commission's work plan.
Following the mass resignation of five of Lafayette's seven planning commissioners as a result of the new stricter conflict of interest policies, the commission was left unable to function. The city council voted to reduce the number of commissioners from seven to five in the short term and has temporarily taken over the reigns as a planning commission.
Now, with the appointment of Greg Mason - a senior structural plans examiner - and the remaining two members, the commission will be up to three, enough to form a quorum.
City attorney Mala Subramanian advised the council that it is released of planning commission duties except for two cases it has already started on.
City Council Member Mike Anderson explained at the April 23 city council meeting that he and Mayor Don Tatzin, as members of the subcommittee, are holding ongoing interviews together with the two remaining commissioners, Gary Huisingh and Steven Bliss.
Anderson said that they are not eliminating any candidates at this point and that interviews would continue into May. However they had decided that if a uniquely qualified candidate presented it would be good to appoint them right away.
Anderson said that Mason had agreed to the new conflict of interest policy, explaining that he doesn't work in Lafayette.
Those interested in volunteering on the planning commission should go to the city website http://www.lovelafayette.org/city-hall/commissions-committees/planning-commission for an application form and for details of the commission's work plan.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA