New faces added to zoning board; Iannetta demoted
By Dotti Farrington

Too many missed zoning board meetings, and possibly too many attended anti-highway barn meetings, cost Ray Iannetta his seat as a regular member of the Zoning Board of Review, according to comments of the Town Council while filling vacancies Monday.

Councilman William Kelly referred to Iannetta's several absences on the board. The zoning board member had explained that his absences coincided with his wife's illness, and that his attendance would not continue to be a factor if he were reappointed because his wife is now well. During the routine pre-appointment interview by the council, Iannetta suggested that absences by regular members enabled alternates, like interns, to get training.

At stake at the council session were: one five-year vacancy for Iannetta's seat now that his original appointment as a regular member expires Dec. 31, and three one-year terms, also effective Dec. 31, for alternate members, who are designated first, second and third alternates, to be seated in that sequence when regular members are absent from meetings. The zoning board is the only town panel with the provision for alternate posts.

Kelly proposed that board alternates David Nardolillo, Dean Wagner, and Richard Cribb, be moved up to fill three posts, and that new candidate Phillip Brian be named as an alternate. That would have left Iannetta unseated.

Councilwoman Barbara Szepatowski commented on Iannetta's technical background and the good job he did when he did attend. She said she recognized the factor of his wife's health. She also said she realized that a factor that could not be denied was Iannetta's role as a longtime leader of opposition to town efforts to locate a highway barn at or near the former town landfill, an issue that still is not resolved. She spoke for his re-appointment to a regular seat.

Councilman Michael Schnack said he would consider Iannetta for a one-year term as third alternative because his attendance does seem "turned around," and because Schnack said he did not know Brian's credentials well enough to add him to the zoning alternate list.

Council Vice President Julio DiGiando seemed to favor that approach and Kelly said he would be willing to make it unanimous. The council then agreed to move Nardolillo up to regular membership from his first alternate slot, Wagner from second alternate to first alternate, and Cribb from third to second alternate. Iannetta would serve as third alternate.

Council oversight

The council in recent months has spoken several times about their concerns about absences on several town boards and discussed some of the problems created because some groups have not been able to muster quorums to meet and carry on business. The council expects to have a work session in January with chairs of town panels as part of the council's intention to review committee missions and attendance.

The councilors also made reappointments to two other boards without comment.

They named longtime community activist and environmentalist Hazel Turley to another three-year term on the Beavertail State Park Advisory Committee. No other candidates sought the seat. They named Barry Holland to a fouryear term on the Planning Commission, for which Brian had also applied.