Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst
November 17, 2016 1:00 a.m.
On Second and Final Reading at their November 15, 2016 Regular Meeting, the Fernandina Beach City Commission (FBCC) approvedon a 4-1 vote Ordinance 2016-34, amending the city’s Land Development Code dealing with membership and terms of office for the Planning Advisory Board. Only Vice Mayor Len Kreger opposed the motion, affirming his belief that the current organization did not need to change. Following passage of the Ordinance, commissioners unanimously dissolved the existing PAB and appointed five members to the reorganized board. Two alternate positions will be filled after the city has had opportunity to recruit applicants. There was no public comment.
The new PAB has been downsized from seven to five regular members and two alternate members. Each commissioner nominates a member whose term runs concurrently with that of the nominating commissioner. Regular and alternate members may be removed without cause by majority vote of the FBCC. The FBCC prefers to appoint regular members with experience in the fields of planning and zoning, engineering, architecture, real estate, law or historic preservation. Additionally, there is a nonvoting member appointed by the Nassau County School Board to attend those meetings where decisions on zoning or comprehensive plan changes would affect distribution of school age population in the city.
Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the following nominations:
- Mark Bennett (Kreger)
- Benjamin Morrison (Lentz)
- Wayne Peterson (Miller)
- Judith Lane (Poynter)
- David Beal (Smith)
Commissioners also appointed City Commissioner Roy Smith to serve as FBCC liaison to the Planning Advisory Board.
City residents interested in serving a 3-year term as alternate on the Planning Advisory Board should submit an application to City Clerk Caroline Best as soon as possible. Contact information and application form are available on the city website www.fbfl.us.
The Planning Advisory Board meets the second Wednesday of each month in Fernandina Beach City Commission Chambers, City Hall. The next meeting is scheduled for December 14, 2016.
Editor’s Note: Suanne Z. Thamm is a native of Chautauqua County, NY, who moved to Fernandina Beach from Alexandria,VA, in 1994. As a long time city resident and city watcher, she provides interesting insight into the many issues that impact our city. We are grateful for Suanne’s many contributions to the Fernandina Observer.
Obviously, this was a move to remove certain member(s) from the Board. I’m not certain this was a good move, but there it is.
The Commission was just not happy with the recommendations of the Board (LignoTech?) and thus busted them up.
I hope the PAB will still have the will to fight for the citizen, even in controversial matters.
My feeling is, this will be a “Rubber Stamp” Committee (always) for the Majority side of the Commission. “Good or Bad”, My thought is, the Citizens of this Community Lose another part of the process in Governance. Sure makes it easier on our Commissioners. Commissioners 1– Citizens 0. I think it’s a counterproductive move for Democracy.