Lee Carr was appointed to the fill the vacant seat on the Planning Board during a March 3 joint meeting between selectmen and members of the Planning Board.
Carr had written a letter expressing his interest in serving on the Planning Board; however, it was a couple days too late to submit nomination papers before deadline and get his name on the ballot for the April 9 election.
In light of this, Carr will run as a write-in candidate, while serving on the Planning Board as an appointed member the month leading up to the election.
The Planning Board is a seven-member board, and has had quorum concerns since December when former Board Member Bob Francis resigned. Having seven members present for meetings is crucial when someone applies for a special permit; it requires a positive majority vote of five out of seven to pass.
Selectmen Chairman Naida Parker pointed out that Carr was the only resident expressing interest in running for the Planning Board, and emphasized that the appointment by selectmen was not an endorsement “showing favoritism.”
“Lee Carr is an easy name to write in,” commented Planning Board member Susan Teal.
Both boards took two separate unanimous votes appointing Carr to the board. If you blinked, you might have missed it – the meeting was only two minutes long.
The next meeting of the Rochester Board of Selectmen is scheduled for March 24 at 6:30 pm at Town Hall.
By Jean Perry
