City Council must finally resolve Plan Commission numbers, 9 or 7

The Wayland City Council’s negligence has allowed an uncertain situation to continue for too long for local governance.

Though I wrote an editorial more than a year ago suggesting the Planning Commission membership be reduced from nine to seven and though the matter was first brought before the Plan Commission in August 2014, the council has done nothing to resolve the question.

Council did have a discussion about the issue last December when it was tabled and it has lain dormant since. The council threw a wrench into the original suggestion by promoting the idea of having the mayor appoint himself to the commission, an idea members of the planning body do not support.

The Planning Commission and I more than a year proposed amending the city charter to reduce the group’s numbers by two for several reasons:

• One is that it is getting more and more difficult to find qualified people willing to serve.
• Two is that a quorum of five is needed to conduct business, and that can be difficult during winter months when members could be sick or temporarily in warmer climate.
• Three is that very few other planning commissions in the area see the need for as many as nine members and most nearby have seven or five. The former zoning administrator acknowledged that nine probably is a higher number than necessary for a city the size of Wayland.
• Four is that one disincentive for serving is low pay, only $38 per meeting, which isn’t as much as Martin Township or Dorr Township, or the $80 per meeting that Wayland Township Planning Commissioners get. So eliminating two posts would result in an extra $760 savings annually, which could be divvied up among the remaining seven members.

For example five commissioners could be paid an extra $100 per year, the vice chairman could get an extra $120 and the chairman a boost of $140.

Further complicating matters is the very real possibility of the resignation of Chairman John Frigmanski, who may step down once the sale of his business on Reno Drive to his son has been finalized. Rules state that members must be residents of the city or at least own a business within the city limits. Frigmanski lives in Yankee Springs Township.

His stepping down would leave just six members, though commissioners are seriously considering newcomer and frequent meeting guest Abe Garcia as a replacement.

But the question, which should have been dealt with properly long before now, is will it be necessary to appoint two new members still yet?

I have made it clear I oppose having the mayor serve on the Planning Commission because I oppose allowing one person to vote on the same issue twice and I’m against having such concentration of power for one person.

The City Council already has a representative on the Planning Commission, though by charter rules she (Lisa Banas) cannot vote. Having two council members serve on the Planning Commission would be excessive.

Because the City Council allowed this problem to fester, its stature has grown. Council members ignored it, but it didn’t go away.

For my money, the two most important functions of government are to solve problems and serve as a fair referee. The council failed, acting too much like our dysfunctional Michigan State Legislature.

City Manager Mike Selden has promised to try to get this issue resolved before he leaves next month and he will bring it up at the Oct. 19 City Council meeting. If discussion in earnest ensues, it will be long overdue.

PHOTO: Chairman John Frigmanski may step down from the Planning Commission if the sale of his business is approved,