It’s not often that you hear anything about the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) in the Town of Malta. Appointments to the seven-member board tend to go unnoticed by the general public, but on Monday night, a motion by Councilwoman Sue Nolen to appoint Cynthia Young as one of two alternates to the ZBA turned into a public debate.
Young is a registered Democrat while the Malta Town Board members are outspoken Republicans, but it was not Young’s political affiliation that was problematic. There was no question about her dedication to the town either. She has worked for the town in several capacities, including in the assessor’s office as well as the office of the town clerk. Her name may seem familiar because she has appeared on election ballots twice in unsuccessful bids to become Malta town clerk, and she has served as chairwoman of the town’s youth commission for more than a dozen years.
The board eventually voted to appoint Young to the position, but Supervisor Paul Sausville as the lone opposition vote. Sausville said what was at issue for him and some members of the public was the means by which she was selected from a pool of six interested parties.
I think it is prudent, wise and the fair thing to consider all candidates, said Sausville following Nolen’s motion.
He said that about a year ago, four potential candidates for the position were interviewed for other appointments they ultimately did not receive. Their names were kept on file for future vacancies, including those with the ZBA. In addition, two others had submitted their rEsumEs for consideration since learning the alternate position was vacant.
`I didn’t know we were looking for someone,` said resident Kathy Eitzmann. `I’d have submitted my own (name).`
Eitzmann chastised the board for not taking an equal look at all candidates and offering interviews for the position.
Sausville said later the board had been discussing the appointment, and he had hoped the discussion would result in an appointment of a candidate that each of the board members could agree to. He identified other qualified candidates who happened to be present at the meeting, including Carol Henry and Tara Thomas, who had both submitted their names for consideration.
Young said she was pleased to be selected to serve on the ZBA.
`I was informed of the vacancy,` said Young. `I didn’t know it was available and expressed my interest in it.`
Young said her interest in the alternate position stems from the same reason she has always volunteered to serve the town.
`I care deeply about the future of Malta,` she said.
Following her appointment, Young was immediately put to work. She spent most of the afternoon of the following day reviewing information for her first ZBA meeting, which took place the next evening.
Alternate Kevin Cronin was appointed without issue last month to the ZBA following the resignation of longtime ZBA member Doug Waring.
Appointments by the town board have no established protocol. For some appointments, the board has publicly asked for rEsumEs. Those who submit letters of interest may or may not be interviewed by the town board members. In other instances, the board has appointed people to various volunteer committees within the town without announcing the vacancy or the new position. Not all appointments have required interested residents to submit rEsumEs and participate in interviews.
`There are no formal guidelines for appointing people to committees,` said Councilwoman Donna Gizzi. `Perhaps that would be helpful.“
