SP Appearance Commission Members Quit in Protest
- Print print this page
- Discuss 10 comments, Blog about
Advertisement
A controversy hanging over the Southern Pines Appearance Commission since the resignation of Chairman Greg Zywocinski and four other members earlier this week may take some time to dissipate.
Zywocinski walked out of Tuesday’s monthly commission meeting, while Vice Chairman Bud Wallen, Andrea Wise-Leech, Suzy Morgan and Joyce White all submitted their resignations the next day.
All claim the Town Council has politicized the appointment process.
“To politicize the finest working group of volunteer citizens in this government is an enormous mistake,” Wise-Leech said. “We’ve been above politics and such a collegial group. I am sick to leave and give this up. It was not an easy decision. I just wish there was some way to salvage this.”
The former commission members are upset because they claim the Town Council did not seek their input before appointing three new members — Carol Haney (wife of former Mayor Mike Haney), Ed Garrison and Bertha Shaw — last month to replace longtime commission members Blanche Woodruff (wife of former Councilman David Woodruff), Joyce Jackson and Lester Seidenberg, whose terms had expired.
In addition, White was reappointed to a second term, and Zywocinski, who had served three terms, was granted another year because he had just been appointed chairman.
The council recently decided to enforce a two-term limit for members of volunteer entities, making the Appearance Commission the last to be brought in line.
In the recent past, the 13-member commission sent its recommendations to the council for approval.
“The entire change was presented to us at our January meeting as a fait accompli,” Wise-Leech said. “Clearly, the mayor (David McNeill) wants total control over this commission.”
McNeill, who attended Tuesday’s meeting, said Wednesday that “nothing could be further from the truth.”
“Recommendations for appointments to these committees are welcomed and encouraged, but tempered to a point where it does not evolve into a sitting self-appointing committee of the town,” McNeill said. “The council had to address the matter at some point. Why not now?”
McNeill cited the town’s Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), which reads, “The Town Council may from time to time, but generally at times of appointment, appoint members at its sole discretion based upon the proportional representation. Recommendations of the Appearance Commission on appointments will be submitted to the Council for review and consideration.”
Council member Mike Fields noted that there were three applications on file with the town when the terms expired for Woodruff, Jackson and Seidenberg last Oct. 31.
“The Appearance Commission did not interview any of those applicants, but instead asked that the five members with expiring terms be reappointed,” Fields said. “The council did reappoint (White) for a second term and allowed (Zywocinski) to stay an additional year to finish his term as chairman. The others were not reappointed because of the new term limits.”
Assistant Town Manager David White said in a Dec. 28, 2011, memo to the council that the Appearance Commission “did not review any of the applications on file at this point in time since all the existing members would like to be reappointed.”
Zywocinski said the council never sought the commission’s input on the new appointees.
“I think to have not been told anything was totally disrespectful to all of us. That’s what hurt us so badly,” he said. “For me, I could not, in good conscience, continue to serve. If I remain, I’m acquiescing. I cannot go along with it.
“It’s a shame that all of these people are leaving. It’s not about me, but I could solve this problem today. It would just take a little compromise. All of this was unnecessary.”
Wise-Leech, who took McNeill to task at Tuesday’s meeting, said the change in the selection process was “at the heart of the matter.”
“This is not about term limits,” Wise-Leech said. “We’re all ‘OK’ with that idea. This has been going on since last fall. We were never informed or consulted in any way.”
She told McNeill at the meeting, “We know better than you.”
Wallen, who took over the meeting after Zywocinski walked out, resigned on Wednesday in an email to David White.
“I am proud to have been associated with so many talented and dedicated people that are both current and former members of the Southern Pines Appearance Commission,” Wallen said in the email.
Morgan and Joyce White also resigned by email.
“It has now come to light that under the current administration, these are political appointments at the whim of the mayor,” Morgan said in her email. “For that reason I am resigning. This makes no sense, nor can it be in the best interest of the goals of the Appearance Commission and service to the town.”
White said she was “truly sorry that this ended up this way.”
“Because I have truly felt honored to be on the commission until these events have transpired,” she said in her email. “I do wish the Appearance Commission the best in working to keep our town as beautiful as it is now.”
Woodruff, Jackson and Seidenberg were invited to last Tuesday’s monthly Town Council meeting to receive certificates of appreciation for their service on the Appearance Commission, but none attended.
Woodruff, who was there, declined to accept the certificate on his wife’s behalf.
The Appearance Commis-sion studies the visual problems and needs of the town as well as the ETJ planning/zoning jurisdiction.
Examples include:
Assisting in the implementation of programs of general community beautification.
Providing leadership and guidance in matters of community design and appearance to individual, organizations and agencies.
Studying the visual characteristics and problems of the town, including surveys and inventories.
Of the 13 members, 10 are residents of the town and the other three are residents of Moore County within the ETJ.
Contact Ted M. Natt Jr. at tnatt@thepilot.com.
More like this story
Advertisement
Comments
NocOwl 1 year, 3 months ago
Sorry, but I don't see what the big deal is. It appears as if these former committee members are throwing a big hissy fit because they didn't get their way, which is to keep voting themselves in. I have no respect for folks that will just turn their backs on something they have been working on and supposedly care about. To just quit without giving notice and ensuring a smooth transition says they are more committed to their little self-appointed group than about the function of the committee. I say good riddance, and although one of the people being appointed is not my favorite person, I wish the new members good luck.
Zippy 1 year, 3 months ago
"NocOwl" doesn't see a problem? I don't have all the facts, I'm very surprised that the town council could do this, and I hope that further investigation will clear this up. However, I have been a victim of this kind of political shenanigan when I was appointed by the Appearance Committee years ago only to have my appointment attempted to be blocked by the council because one particular member did not like the political views I've espoused over the years in my letters and columns to The Pilot. If it was not for the strong argument and protests of the Appearance Committee at the time and chair person, Blanche Woodruff, the council would have successfully blocked my appointment. It's pretty clear to me that the Appearance Committee has played a very important role in maintaining the beauty and sanctity of this town. I don't trust the "business" interests, I suspect that they are the main players in this attempt to further their interests over the best interests of the citizens of this town. For instance, I think they wouldn't put up much of a fight against something like distracting, blinking electronic signs all over the place that would reduce our area into just another advertising circus atmosphere, something that the Appearance Committee has opposed. If we support the undercutting of a fair political process as the Pilot article implies we will be doing a permanent disservice to this town. I applaud the committee members for their courageous stance. This comment written by Bob Katrin
landopines 1 year, 3 months ago
When one person quits...it's a hissy fit. When near about your entire commission quits, it’s far more than that. From the article, I gather that there has been an unwritten protocol that has been respected in the past and for whatever reason and without warning this Council decided to go about it differently. While it’s entirely within Council’s charge to do that, it has negative integrity implications. Keep in mind; this Appearance Commission is made up of volunteers of the town that donate their time and effort to this board. I’m reasonably certain that the volunteer file is not overrunning with people to donate in this capacity. For the Council and the Mayor do a sudden about face does seem strange. It displays an arrogance that is not only unfortunate but also disruptive to spirit that thrives in Southern Pines. I almost feel there is an “us against them” mentality developing in this town that is being reinforced by recent Council actions. It’s odd how term limits apply to everybody that’s not in charge.
cantstandya 1 year, 3 months ago
Southern Pines is starting to look like a pair of mismatched shoes with the combination of industry and residential areas overlapping one another,the downtown area is getting choked off by what appears to be developments that are either out of place or made to fit at whatever the cost just to fit an empty space,more about tax base than curb appeal.
babiehop 1 year, 3 months ago
by babiehop
Can you find the stop sign ? Not the one a block away, but the one playing hide-n-seek. Perhaps the new members will show some concern for safety as well as whether the grass and boxhedges are perfectly even.
cantstandya 1 year, 3 months ago
There are sections of Southern Pines that if one did not know better they would think they were in Watt's section of LA.,seems as if the beautification committee just ran out of money across the overpass on Pennsylvania Ave,I'm sure those people pay taxes also and would like some improvements made.
skylinefirepest 1 year, 3 months ago
Babiehop? I don't believe that clearing around stop signs would fall under the guidance of a volunteer appearance committee. Nocowl...personally knowing at least two of these volunteers I can guarantee you this is not a simple "hissy fit", ok?? You might want to gather a little more information before stating as such!
irishman 1 year, 3 months ago
This board has no right to demand that they appoint it's members, let them quit, good riddance, typical liberals. Just like the hissy fit in Wisconsin.
The council has the obligation to appoint the board.
native 1 year, 3 months ago
I did not know there was an Appearance Committee. There are certain houses in Southern Pines that probable could and would be condemed if they were inspected. Some are rentals and some are not. The owners of these houses should beheld accountable for the condition of the houses..
cantstandya 1 year, 3 months ago
There are but about two city blocks of downtown Souther Pines that reflect what it once was after that it looks like a hodge podge of whatever goes,actually looks like a town going down than one exsperiencing growth somewhere along the way it got left out of the preservation of things that made it the quaint little town it was.
elguapo9 1 year, 3 months ago
The appearance committee needs to be concerned about more than Broad St. The neighborhoods west of Broad St., North of Pennsylvania and East of US 1 look like the trailer park from '8 Mile' with the weight benches in the front yards and the old cars up on blocks. Every time I drive through there I swear I can hear the theme song to The Jeffersons.