Seven Villages, Janet Joakim

Despite what you read in the local weekly, and for some, what you read blogs, this town is doing well considering the times we live in. We remain financially healthy enough to maintain the status of an AAA bond rating. Our downtown growth incentive zone is a model for other Cape Towns. The relationship between our school department and town has allowed us to combine departments – something that has set an example that what some towns see as impossible is possible. The town departments and staff receive a constant stream of awards, recognitions and most important, grants. With all of this and more there are some who spend their days looking for the flaws and reporting on speculations of corruption that just doesn’t exist. I am proud of this town and of the work I have done in the past seven years.

Recent news stories, columns, and letters in the Patriot about the resignation of members of our Zoning Board of Appeals have included misleading and sensational or completely inaccurate details and although they might add color to a story, the reader is led away from the facts.

Contrary to these stories:

• I have no financial or family interest in the Cape Cod Package Store.
• I am not part of some conspiracy with the town administration to forward some unseen agenda. As president it is my job to work with the town manager, not for him. His efforts reflect the direction given by his own communications with councilors, village and civic associations, our Local Comprehensive Plan, citizens survey and more.
• My opposition to the proposed 9800 sq foot Blanchard’s Liquors project, along with other councilors, is based on public safety concerns shared by residents of this town, the school committee and the town’s Economic Development Commission. In the seven years I have been a councilor the number one concern I have heard about is traffic. Addressing frustrating delays and dangerous intersections is a priority and this is reflected in our Local Comprehensive Plan. I believe it is my responsibility to speak out when a project will create more problems for the residents of my precinct and the town.
• I was unhappy with our ZBA’s decision to approve the Blanchard’s project, but I was also concerned about several other projects brought to my attention by residents including CVS and Tradewinds. I spent several hours reviewing past meetings and minutes, and it was clear there was a need for better communication with this board. I planned to arrange a meeting with the ZBA to discuss the town’s Local Comprehensive Plan and the town’s citizen survey in August or September. I wanted our two groups to have a discussion about the overall direction of our town.

But I never had a chance to arrange that meeting.

My family and I have been the subject of gossip and innuendo regarding ZBA appointments that has prompted the local bloggers to initiate yet another effort to collect signatures to recall me. The actual series of events is complicated, not as colorful as the columns and stories, and not any one person’s responsibility.

Laura Shufelt was nominated by the appointments committee as a full member not to replace or “instead of” the associate member, Mr. Norman. She is not a “neophyte” as the ZBA’s resignation letter suggested; she has experience with zoning and the committee voted unanimously to recommend her for a regular member seat. Beyond her nomination we still had one full and one associate seat to fill; if Mr. Norman was interested in moving to a full member seat he could have contacted us earlier as these seats have been open for over a year.

The appointments committee is a committee of councilors. The committee had been under pressure to fill four ZBA openings, two full members and two associates. After conducting several interviews, we nominated one full member and one associate and expected to interview more candidates for the remaining seats. The council voted to support the first two nominations.

Then six ZBA members resigned.

Mr. Norman, the associate ZBA member who was the focus of the resignation letter, shared his perspective of events during public comment at a recent town council meeting. He said he was interviewed over the phone and was told that he would see his name on a town council meeting agenda nominated as a full member of the ZBA. That discussion can only take place in an open session of the appointments committee. I apologized to him about what must have been a miscommunication. The appointments committee is charged with interviewing candidates in a committee meeting with a quorum. Ultimately, we didn’t get the chance to interview Mr. Norman for the remaining open seat because he was nominated from the floor to counter Laura Shufelt’s nomination - a little-used procedure allowed in our rules and code.

Some have suggested the associate seat is designed to train for a regular member which is not a reflection of policy or code. Several members over the years have served as associates and had never moved to regular seats. It would make sense that if an associate member of any board or committee is interested in full membership, they apply and interview with the appointments committee. Our administrative code should be changed to make that clear.

So much of these bits and pieces could have easily been discussed and fleshed out with phone calls or meetings, yet we never had the opportunity to do this. The resignations were done without a dialogue.

Before the resignations, this current appointments committee had developed a certificate of appreciation program where we will recognize, annually in September, all of those who have served for at least one year and have completed their service this year. We all agreed that we should all take the opportunity to thank those who serve, whether it is for their first year or their twentieth year. I personally believe all of these volunteers are invaluable and appreciate each and every one of them.

Appointments are done in a democratic manner. Votes are taken by the appointments committee and then twice at the council level – first and second reading. The majority of the committee and councilors determine the outcome.

I am just one vote in the process. I was one in a unanimous vote of the five member appointments committee to nominate Laura Shufelt, and one in the majority of the 13 councilors who voted to confirm her appointment.

There was no hidden design to change or manipulate the ZBA.

Black and white, not very colorful, but true.