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SYRACUSE - Three new members on the Syracuse Town Council found out right away that the town's business isn't always smooth sailing.
Cassie Cowan first was sworn in, joining newly elected members Brian Woody and Brian Antondies and returning members Paul Stoelting and Larry Siegel. Cowan replaces Carol Koble, who resigned at the end of 2003.
Siegel was elected council president and later chose Stoelting as vice president.
Then the waters started getting a little rough.
The Syracuse Board of Zoning Appeals is supposed to be a five-member board.
For the last approximate five months, the zoning board has had a vacancy as the town council has failed to appoint someone to the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission. That person on the plan commission would by default also serve on the Syracuse BZA.
Also, Syracuse BZA chairman Mike Brower's term expired Dec. 31, 2003, and the town council failed to reappoint Brower at Tuesday's meeting.
"I don't know that we're in a position to make an appointment at this time," said Siegel. He said he would like to advertise the vacancies to see if anyone from the public would be interested in filling those two vacancies.
Initially, when Syracuse Town Manager Brian Redshaw asked if they wanted the advertisement to have a deadline of next month, Siegel said no. Stoelting asked the BZA members present at the council meeting for their input.
Jon Brookmyer said with two vacancies on the five-member zoning board, any decision the board makes would have to be unanimous because it takes three votes to approve a motion on a petition. Having just three members on the BZA is unfair to the zoning board and the petitioners.
"I don't think it's fair to the citizens," Brookmyer said.
Steve Sharp, BZA member, agreed, saying if the zoning board doesn't have a quorum, the petition will have to be tabled for a month or until a full board is present.
"That is not fair to the petitioner," Sharp said.
Brower, who has served 14 years on the Syracuse BZA voluntarily, asked the board to take an action on his behalf at the Tuesday meeting so he knew if he was to continue on the board or not. He said he would serve another four years if the town council asked him to, but he wanted to know last night.
Woody said with three new members on the town council, they needed more time to review the matter. The zoning board positions are important ones for the town, he said.
Stoelting said he did think the issue needs to be settled by next month.
"Do we want to put a timeframe on it that it needs to be done by next month?" Siegel asked. Stoelting said it did.
"It makes sense to put a deadline on it," town attorney Mike Reed said.
Brower asked again for the town council to make a decision on his appointment last night. He said he's never known two vacancies on the zoning board to be filled in a month. With 14 years of volunteering on the board, he said making a decision on his appointment would be the respectful thing to do.
Siegel said it was his priority to have public input and advertising for the appointments.
Patty Gammiere, township assessor, told the council, "I'm wondering why you would want to replace a gentleman with 14 years of experience. It is a very important board ... my thoughts would be that a man with 14 years of experience would be a no-brainer."
Stoelting said the council probably can't replace Brower with someone who has as much BZA knowledge as Brower. Advertising the volunteer appointments didn't mean the council doesn't support Brower, Stoelting said.
Stoelting said they could advertise the positions and make a decision next month.
"We may not get any (interest)," he said.
