Commission Appointments Come Down to Playing By The Rules

One month after democrats blocked republicans' appointment to the insurance commission, an issue that Deputy Mayor Al Simon called "much ado about nothing" came to a head Tuesday night during the town council meeting when Simon said that the council had not been operating in accordance with its rules.

"I was intent on changing the rules to allow us a period before we actually voted on a nominee to a board or commission and when I went to review the council's rule of order, I found that that is, in fact, already the rule," Simon said during the meeting.

The council rules currently read:

All appointments made by the Council shall be by vote of not less than five members of the Council, except as specified otherwise in the Town Charter. With the exception of the appointment of Council Committees as set forth in Sections 23 through 26 of these rules, whenever the Mayor shall, at any meeting, submit an appointment to be made with the advice and consent of the Council, consideration of such appointment shall be deferred until the next meeting.

"It seems to me we should simply follow the existing rule starting tonight," Simon added.

The council voted unanimously (Councilors Aaron Jubrey and Michael McDonald were absent) to follow the rule and alter the wording by specifying that appointments submitted by the mayor or any other member of the council should be presented and voted on during separate meetings.

However, following of rules was not the main concern, Councilor Donald Jepsen said.

"What happened was not that we didn't wait a meeting. The problem is that one of our appointments was objected out of hand, an opportunity we (republicans) do not have [given the majority held by democratic town council members," said Jepsen. "I do not see a fix for that being presented."

Jepsen suggested the council consider amending the council's voting rules regarding appointments to boards and commissions by requiring a majority vote of six instead of five.

A motion was not made by the council to vote on the suggestion.

Simon did suggest to Jepsen that the republicans make another motion to appoint Malvi Lennon, .

It was unclear to council members on Tuesday, however, whether or not the rules will allow a motion that was once voted down to be made again.

Council members agreed to go back and take a look at the rules for future application and interpretation.