Selectmen Table Steering Committee Appointment

In an effort to stay fair in the selection process, the Board of Selectmen Monday night decided to table an appointment for the Master Plan Steering Committee.

The committee is charged with implementing the town's Master Plan, as the Master Plan Committee has dissolved.

The committee calls for two Planning Board members, Town Manager Paul Cohen, one Zoning Board of Appeals member, one Conservation Commission member, one Community Preservation Committee member, one Town Meeting representative and one resident. Cohen is charged with recommending both the Town Meeting rep and the resident to serve on the board, and selectmen will confirm those appointments.

The only Town Meeing Rep who applied for the job, however, is Phil Eliopoulos - the man behind the .

Cohen said Eliopoulos, who served as a member of the Board of Selectmen on the Master Plan Committee, would be beneficial for continuity on the board. Jim Lane and George Zaharoolis have both decided not to be involved with the steering committee, Cohen said.

Selectman Jon Kurland made the motion to table the appointment.

"I would seek tabling this particular appointment because if you take a look at the town Web site, there was a deadline designated as Nov. 3, and although I know we've mentioned it in Board of Selectmen meetings that we were seeking applications. The bottom line was no one submitted an application within the time table," said Kurland.

Kurland said several people had approached him indicating they were willing to toss their name into the hat for the job but hadn't because of the deadline date on the Web site.

"My feeling is there may be a perception out there that the rules that would normally apply to everyone don't apply to a particular indiviual because (his) application came in after the deadline on the Web site," said Kurland. "My concern is with the process and when a deadline has passed, you reopen the process and let everyone know.  The prudent thing would have been to change it on the town Web site so people would know there was a greater window to apply."

Cohen said he was willing to bring the appointment back at the board's next meeting.

"In the issue of fairness, I just hope if I bring (back) the same individual in two weeks ... I think the concern is I was surprised he put his name forth given the abuse he's been through. It astounds me ... but I would say I will review the applications that come in and I will bring forth individual who will best serve the position," said Cohen.