At this past Planning
Commission meeting it appears that four members of the
Shawnee Planning Commission overstepped their position.
First, let's make one thing
clear. Planning Commission members have volunteered for the position,
and that is to be commended. At the same time, they are not accountable
to anybody.
At this last meeting, four of them seem to have gone over the line. It had to do with the fact that
the City Council (who is accountable to the citizens of the city) voted
down the rezoning action for the proposed apartment unit at 5700 King Street.
At the end of the meeting,
while still in session these four saw fit to
complain about the action of the City Council. It is NOT their position
to take sides on these issues. They cannot be champions for either the
developers or the residents. That is beyond the scope of their
function. Freedom of speech? Yes, when the individual is not
sitting in a session. Taking sides while sitting in a session is abhorrent.
So, what happened? Commissioner Les Smith (5 years) started the ball rolling
with attacks of the council. Randy
Braley who has been on the Planning Commission for six years announced his
resignation because he disagreed with the council's actions. He has been
on the Commission since 6/2014. Good riddance.
Commission chair Dennis
Busby made some scathing comments about the city council. He has been on
the Commission since 8/2007. That is 13 years. Too long. Methinks
he should follow Braley out the door and not let the door hit him in the rear.
Next up.....Alan (Former
Mayor Jeff Meyers' Uncle by Marriage) Willoughby. He was advocating, from
his position on the Commission, that residents in the wards of the council
persons who voted against the item should rise up and vote them out. That
is a personal view, and if he wants to state that away from a Commission
meeting that is fine. But to make that statement while the Commission is
in session is a breach of protocol. He too should follow Braley out the
door. His service on the commission has been split over the years, but
amounts to approximately 10 years.
Again, it is
not the Planning Commission's responsibility to advocate for either side in a matter
that has come before them. These four have
tarnished their positions.
