P&Z Elects Lilla Dean As Chairman

By Andrew Gorosko

Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) members have elected Democrat Lilla Dean to serve as chairman of the land use agency.

At a June 7 session, Democratic P&Z member Robert Poulin nominated Ms Dean to serve as chairman, after which Ms Dean was elected unanimously by the membership.

Ms Dean of Hawleyville has served on the P&Z for almost a decade. She had been the panel’s vice chairman since last December.

Ms Dean replaces Republican William O’Neil as chairman. Mr O’Neil recently resigned from the P&Z because of a move to Virginia. Mr O’Neil had been chairman since August 2002.

Also, P&Z member Republican Dennis Bloom nominated Mr Poulin to serve as vice chairman, after which Mr Poulin was elected unanimously.

Republican B. Jane Brymer remains as secretary of the agency.

The departure of Mr O’Neil creates a Republican regular member’s vacancy on the P&Z.

The P&Z has eight members, five of whom are regular members and three of whom are alternate members. Based on the November 2005 elections, three Republicans and two Democrats comprise the current regular membership. The panel has had two Republican alternates and one Democratic alternate since 2005.

Alternate members vote on P&Z decisions in the absence of regular members. The panel requires the presence of three members to conduct business.

All current seven members of the agency attended the June 7 session. All of those members were eligible to vote in the election of P&Z officers.

Also attending the session were Republican regular member Sten Wilson, Republican alternate member  Robert Mulholland, and Democratic alternate member Philip Cruz.

In the upcoming November general elections, the seats currently held by Mr Poulin, Mr Wilson, and the currently vacant position that was created by the resignation of Mr O’Neil will be up for election to four-year terms. Also, all three alternate members’ posts will be up for election to two-year terms.