Supervisor targeting New Kent’s Planning Commission

A New Kent supervisor, who campaigned on targeting the jobs of several county Planning Commission members on the way to winning election in 2011, is striving to make good on his election promise.

District 4 Supervisor Ron Stiers told fellow board members during the group’s Monday work session that the board should examine the commission’s makeup with an eye toward reducing its membership.

“Several on the Planning Commission don’t do their jobs,” he said without revealing specific names. “Some don’t look at the materials and some wait until the day of the meeting to pick up their [agenda] packets.”

His suggestion earned board approval for holding a joint session with the commission on Feb. 19 at 6 p.m., just before the commission convenes for its regular monthly meeting. The purpose is to inform commission members of the board’s concerns and bring up the “talking point” of reducing size.

Currently, the commission is composed of 10 members, two from each of the county’s five election districts. A supervisors’ representative, Tommy Tiller from District 2, also sits on the commission.

Stiers is recommending a seven-member commission made up of one representative from each district and two at-large members.

“That would save taxpayers about $6,000 a year,” he said.

“We need to get people in there who are interested in doing the job.”

Revamping the commission could involve what one supervisor termed “wiping the slate clean.” Doing so, however, would require a new county law, said county attorney MicheleGowdy.

Supervisors must hold a public hearing before adopting a new ordinance governing Planning Commission membership, she said afterward. The current ordinance was passed in 2004.

Commission members are appointed for four-year terms, but serve at the pleasure of the board. Once a new law is approved, supervisors could appoint an entire new slate of commission members, Gowdy said.