This was strangely MIA from the city website meeting minutes page. I got a copy from someone at City Hall with a axe to grind. I'm not sure why Tory Kramer didn't post this himself. Enjoy...
Thank you Mr. Chairman,
My fellow commission members, it would seem that we are now in the midst of a political struggle. This struggle is one in which we, as a group, have neither an opportunity to be heard nor the ability to control. This past Tuesday, Mayor Shaver announced at the City Council meeting that he was removing Mitch O?’Brien as his representative to the Planning and Zoning commission. He also announced that his new appointment would be Brian Sauer.
This announcement came as a complete surprise since the Mayor chose to consult with neither myself nor the Chairman of this commission. I realize that the charter to the city of Pickerington states that the Mayors representative serves at his leisure, but I would hope that decisions as drastic as this would be thought out as carefully as possible and that the Mayor would seek out the advice of the commission leadership. That does not seem to be the case in this decision. Mitch O?’Brien was the Mayors representative for one month. To make a change of this magnitude in such a rapid fire manner clearly gives the wrong impression to not only the members of this commission, but also to the residents of the city of Pickerington, the applicants and developers which come before this group as well as our surrounding communities.
Furthermore, I find it illogical that Mayor Shaver would chose to make a decision to replace someone with the vast experience of Mitch O?’Brien with a representative that clearly does not possess the kind of experience we need on this commission. As you are all aware, Planning and Zoning is generally at the fore-front of many crucial projects and decisions made in this community. Like it or not, we make decisions for the city of Pickerington that make not only headlines but pave the way for the future. I certainly do not think that this commission wants or needs to be involved in political infighting. If Mayor Shaver wishes to make rash decisions that affect this commission, I feel that we cannot sit idly by and allow it to happen. There is far too much at stake to allow this group to be the center of paybacks for political favors.
I would recommend to each of my fellow commission members to make your voices heard regarding this mistake in judgment by Mayor Shaver. I urge you to contact him and insist that future decisions of this scale are better thought out and that your commission leadership is consulted beforehand.
Tory L. Kramer
Vice-Chairman
Planning and Zoning Commission
By Insider
Thank you Mr. Chairman,
My fellow commission members, it would seem that we are now in the midst of a political struggle. This struggle is one in which we, as a group, have neither an opportunity to be heard nor the ability to control. This past Tuesday, Mayor Shaver announced at the City Council meeting that he was removing Mitch O?’Brien as his representative to the Planning and Zoning commission. He also announced that his new appointment would be Brian Sauer.
This announcement came as a complete surprise since the Mayor chose to consult with neither myself nor the Chairman of this commission. I realize that the charter to the city of Pickerington states that the Mayors representative serves at his leisure, but I would hope that decisions as drastic as this would be thought out as carefully as possible and that the Mayor would seek out the advice of the commission leadership. That does not seem to be the case in this decision. Mitch O?’Brien was the Mayors representative for one month. To make a change of this magnitude in such a rapid fire manner clearly gives the wrong impression to not only the members of this commission, but also to the residents of the city of Pickerington, the applicants and developers which come before this group as well as our surrounding communities.
Furthermore, I find it illogical that Mayor Shaver would chose to make a decision to replace someone with the vast experience of Mitch O?’Brien with a representative that clearly does not possess the kind of experience we need on this commission. As you are all aware, Planning and Zoning is generally at the fore-front of many crucial projects and decisions made in this community. Like it or not, we make decisions for the city of Pickerington that make not only headlines but pave the way for the future. I certainly do not think that this commission wants or needs to be involved in political infighting. If Mayor Shaver wishes to make rash decisions that affect this commission, I feel that we cannot sit idly by and allow it to happen. There is far too much at stake to allow this group to be the center of paybacks for political favors.
I would recommend to each of my fellow commission members to make your voices heard regarding this mistake in judgment by Mayor Shaver. I urge you to contact him and insist that future decisions of this scale are better thought out and that your commission leadership is consulted beforehand.
Tory L. Kramer
Vice-Chairman
Planning and Zoning Commission
By Insider
