As 2008 draws to close and another town organization meeting is set for January, there will be some significant changes to the town’s planning division.
After the passing of former Planning Board Chairman Parker Mathusa, board member Howard Engel took over as chair. Now with Engel’s seven-year term set to expire, he is stepping down, leaving two Planning Board seats open, as well as a new chairmanship appointment.
Appointments are made by the supervisor and voted on by the Town Board, according to Supervisor Jack Cunningham.
In addition to the planning seats, Bethlehem’s director of economic development, George Leveille, is retiring from his position. The terms of Zoning Board member Leonard Micelli and Zoning Board Chairman Michael C. Hodom had expired.
Cunningham said Micelli and Hodom are expected to be re-appointed to their positions and that the town’s assistant director of economic development and planning, Michael Morelli, was be considered for Leveille’s job.
In all, the town’s Planning Board will have a new director of economic developer, a new chairman and two newly appointment members.
The chairman of the Planning Board will be selected from one of the members currently on the board by the Town Board, Cunningham said.
Engel said he has valued his time on the planning board.
`I finished my seven years,` Engel said. `It’s been very interesting and I’ve learned a lot. I was retired at the time when I was appointed, so it worked for me.`
Engel said he enjoyed working with Leveille and wished him well.
`George is very knowledgeable and was very good to work with,` he said.
The Tuesday, Dec. 16, Planning Board meeting was Engel’s last.
`I want to thank everyone for the past four or five weeks in getting through a difficult time,` Engel said, referring to Mathusa’s death. `This is my final meeting and my last official business.`
He said he learned more than just about town planning during his tenure.
`I’ve enjoyed my time and learned a lot,` Engel said before jesting, `I learned when to open my mouth and when to keep it shut, too.`
Nanci Moquin, the board’s administrative assistant, presented Engel with a proclamation from the town for his service, which she described as a tradition offered to retiring board members.
However, the proclamation carried some special significance for Engel, as he was preparing to make his last official act of the town.
`This was Parker’s last official act as chairman of the board and he said as a long-time friend he wanted to be a part of this,` Moquin told Engel.
Mathusa died on Sunday, Nov. 16, at his Delmar home after losing a battle with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, at the age of 70.
Cunningham thanked both Engel and Levielle for their service to Bethlehem.
`He [Engel] did a great job on the Planning Board and I’m particularly grateful that he could step in after Parker’s death and help take the reigns,` Cunningham said, adding that he would most likely `call on` Engel over town planning matters in the future.
He shared similar comments about Levielle.
`George has been a great asset, coming in after [former supervisor] Theresa [Eagan]. He has been invaluable to me and I’m going to miss him at Town Hall,` Cunningham said of Levielle. `I will be tapping on his shoulder from time to time as well.`
The town’s appointments will be made at its organizational meeting at Town Hall on Tuesday, Jan. 6, at 6 p.m.
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