Filling city boards sparks dissent

Councilman, mayor disagree on approach to appointments

City Councilman Ron Beatty this week cast the lone dissenting vote during council's ratification of Mayor Matt Pacifico's nominations to fill seats on the city's authorities, boards and commissions -- explaining afterward that it signaled his disagreement with Pacifico's approach to filling those seats.

Council appointed 14 new members unanimously in a single block vote, but at Beatty's request, set aside the nomination of incumbent Matt Gindlesperger to the Zoning Hearing Board for a separate ballot.

It's good every once in a while to rotate members who can provide a "new perspective" -- especially for bodies like the Zoning Board and the Planning Commission, which have outside impact, Beatty said afterward, when questioned from the podium in the presence of the other council members.

"I wanted to prove a point," Beatty said later, after it was pointed out that his wife, Kathie, was a candidate alongside Gindlesperger for the Zoning Hearing Board -- and also a candidate for the Planning Commission -- based on her talent bank application.

He was not trying to get his wife to work on the Zoning Hearing Board, Beatty said.

"She doesn't need another job," he stated.

Rather, Beatty said, he was putting to the test the mayor's willingness to appoint new people, to give him a chance to show Pacifico really meant it last year when he "made a big deal out of not having qualified" applicants.

He was needling the mayor a little with such a test, Beatty conceded.

Not only does he want the mayor to consider non-incumbents so that there is periodic turnover on the authorities, boards and commissions, but Beatty also wants Pacifico to provide the list of nominations early, so that council members have time to vet the nominees, Beatty said.

Council got the list this year five days before the meeting this week.

"There was no time to check qualifications," Beatty said.

By virtue of his incumbency, Gindlesperger was the most qualified Zoning Hearing Board applicant, Pacifico said after the meeting, when Beatty's statements were relayed to him.

"I think experience matters," Pacifico said, in answer to Beatty's call for more turnover. "On numerous occasions, we have reappointed well-deserving people -- and removed people when appropriate," the mayor said.

Gindlesperger was one of 11 incumbents reappointed this time.

He was not "sitting on those names," Pacifico added, in response to Beatty's plea for an earlier release of the list of nominees.

"I was still seeking applicants through Christmas week," he said.

Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 814-949-7038.