A move to save the town of Camillus more than $13,000 has eliminated two positions from both the planning and zoning boards.
The Camillus Town Board voted to 6-1 to abolish the two positions, as allowed by law, with fifth ward councilor Dick Griffo voting against the move.
“As I did my research, we went from five to seven [[planning board] members [in the 1960s] because if we had conflicts with the county, we need a super-majority to overcome that conflict,” said Griffo at Tuesday’s board meeting. “I don’t think [County Executive] Joanie Mahoney has been a friend of any town or village since she started. It’s very important that if we have loyal, competent people and we can keep this majority to seven, I think we should do it.”
The town attorney, Dirk Oudemool, said the move would not eliminate the chance for a super-majority. A simple majority, which in the case of a seven-person board is four, would require a fifth vote to become a super-majority vote. In the case of a five-person board, a simple majority is three, with the fourth vote taking the board to the super-majority level. The planning board also has an alternate member, John Williams, the code enforcement officer for the village of Camillus, in case of absence and in need of a super-majority.
“If the board were not working in an adequate manner, we would make due consideration to move it back,” said sixth ward councilor James Salanger.
State law states the planning board in a primary town, such as Camillus, must be made of five people. The zoning board must consist of three people.
The town board’s vote eliminated the planning board positions held by Lynda Wheat and John Trombetta, who were both up for re-election.
