New ZBA Members Recommended

Report on the Special Meeting of the Community Resources Committee, April 2, 2024

By Maura Keene

This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. The recording can be viewed here.

Present
Pam Rooney (Chair, District 4), Pat DeAngelis (District 2), Freke Ette (District 1), Mandi Jo Hanneke (at large), Jennifer Taub (District 4)

Past Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) interviews have been contentious, and this round was no less so. The Community Resources Committee (CRC) of the Town Council interviewed seven candidates for the board on April 2. Vacancies to be filled were a full three-year term beginning July 1, when Craig Meadows’ term expires; a term for a full member beginning immediately and ending June 30, 2025 to fill the vacancy created when John Gilbert resigned in November; and four one-year associate positions, one of which would begin immediately because of Sarah  Marshall’s election to the School Committee and subsequent resignation from the ZBA. ZBA Chair Steve Judge, Everald Henry, and Philip White are the continuing ZBA members. With the resignations of Gilbert and Marshall, the ZBA has been short on members for their panels. 

Applicants were Craig Meadows (current full member seeking a second term), Hilda Greenbaum (current associate member seeking a second term as associate), David Sloviter (current associate member for two terms seeking an appointment as a full member), and David Ahlfield, Rizwana Khan, Vince O’Connor, and John Varner. O’Connor had previously served for six months as an associate member in 2023. Varner had applied to the ZBA in 2022 and was rejected in a controversial vote, with opposition to his appointment led by CRC members Mandi Jo Hanneke and Pat DeAngelis. Also due to objections by Hanneke and DeAngelis, Sloviter was denied promotion to full member in 2023..

Read More: Information Sheet on the Zoning Board of Appeals

After an interview session lasting over 90 minutes, the CRC members deliberated for  two hours. The committee members quickly recommended Meadows’ appointment to a second three-year term as a full member, but Hanneke and DeAngelis vociferously objected to Sloviter as the second full member. Hanneke complained that when she approached him via email about applying for Gilbert’s position in November, Sloviter replied that he did not plan to apply to the ZBA in the future and refused to participate “in this charade.” Hanneke said that despite his assertion that he is able to navigate contentious situations without anger, Sloviter’s email response indicated otherwise.DeAngelis agreed with Hanneke. Although Sloviter had made it clear that he would not accept it, Hanneke and DeAngelis said they were willing to support him as a candidate for another term as an associate member. .

Pam Rooney and Jennifer Taub noted that Sloviter had served admirably as an associate member of the ZBA for almost two terms and had received a letter of support from ZBA Chair Steve Judge. They contended that his response to Hanneke’s email was not nearly as important as his performance on the board, which they said should hold more weight. Freke Ette, who was the only CRC member not involved in the previous decisions, was impressed by Judge’s recommendation, and voted with Rooney and Taub to recommend Sloviter for the remainder of Gilbert’s term.

There was consensus among the CRC members that Greenbaum should continue as an associate for another term beginning July 1. Sloviter’s elevation to full member meant another associate seat was open immediately. The CRC agreed to recommend Ahlfield for one of the two positions, beginning immediately because of his experience as a civil engineer with specialization in hydrology and his previous service on the Board of Health. That left three candidates for two remaining associate positions. 

At the start of the interview session, Khan tried to withdraw her candidacy, saying she did not have the experience to serve on the ZBA. However, DeAngelis explained that the associate positions are meant to acquaint members with the functions of the ZBA, and said she should continue the interview process. The CRC members appreciated that she is a renter and a woman of color and that she had extensive experience in education and outreach. They recommended her as an associate with a term beginning on July 1, so she could listen to ZBA meetings in the interim and gain experience.

The CRC members also praised Varner for reapplying after the painful experience in 2022 and for continuing to follow the ZBA. They nominated him to fill Sloviter’s position as an associate beginning immediately and then continuing until June 30, 2025. As for O’Connor, who was not selected, Rooney referred to him as “a marvelous member of the community and the conscience of Amherst.” 

For selection guidance for the ZBA, see here. The CRC recommendations for appointment will be forwarded to the Town Council president and the Clerk of the Council. The appointments must be affirmed by the full council. The council vote will occur either at the April 8 or April 22 meeting.