(5/21) After multiple attempts for reappointment by the Council, Chairman David Ennis finally won his reappointment to the Planning Commission via the Burgess breaking a 2-2-1 tie. Ennis, whose term ended in November, was initially recommended for reappointment at the Town Council’s December meeting, but the vote ended in a 2-2 tie, with Ennis’ wife, Commissioner Mary Ann Brodie-Ennis, abstaining.
Burgess Chad Weddle believed at the time that he was not allowed to break the tie, so the commissioners opted to hold another vote at the February meeting once Weddle’s ability to break the tie was verified.
Initial concerns about reappointing Ennis were because his wife, Brodie-Ennis, is currently serving on the Town Council. Commissioner Mike McNiesh and Commissioner Betsey Whitmore Brannen have voiced objections to having related members on separate councils at the same time in previous meetings. In the past, when interest in holding these positions was low, it was common for family members to hold these positions at the same time; however, now there are more people interested in being involved so it isn't a necessary practice.
Both Brannen and McNiesh disliked Ennis' involvement with the current comprehensive plan update where the Commission voted to add growth while residents have been avidly against doing so.
Commissioner Gary Baker, however, said he was not concerned about Ennis serving on the Planning Commission while his wife sat on the Town Council. Baker backed Ennis because of his involvement with the comprehensive plan update over the past three years, fearing that if the Planning Commission lost him, any momentum with the plan’s update would be lost. Commissioner Gilbert joined Baker in supporting Ennis’ reappointment.
At the February Council meeting, Gilbert again made the initial motion to reappoint Ennis with Baker once again seconding the motion. Brannen, again, voted against his reappointment, voicing the same concerns she voiced at the November meeting. Ennis’s wife, Mary Ann, abstained as she had in December.
To the surprise of everyone, McNiesh used a procedural option to ensure Ennis’ reappointment failed—he simply abstained—and as a result, the motion to reappoint Ennis failed, as the Council did not have the required minimum of three votes to form a quorum to pass the motion.
McNiesh stated his reason for abstaining was strategic; he didn’t want Weddle to be able to break the tie in favor of Ennis which he believed Weddle would have done had he voted against the reappointment as he did in December.
April's vote went much the same way as previous votes with Gilbert and Baker voting in favor of Ennis to be reappointed. When asked for his opinion, Gilbert described Ennis as "effective and conscientious with all planning matters."
Brannen, who voted against Ennis’ reappointment for the third time, said, "for me, at this point it has absolutely nothing to do with Ennis’ relationship. There is a fundamental difference in our beliefs." Brodie-Ennis again abstained and left the room during the discussion.
The wild card, McNiesh voted "present" this time, which has the effect of an abstention. He stated, "I’m defending the will of the citizens" as his reasoning. Burgess Chad Weddle explained he was advised by the legal team that in this case he was allowed to break the tie, so he voted in favor of Ennis being reappointed.
Ennis will now continue his position on the Planning Commission and serve a four-year term.
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