Planning Board Appointment

The combined planning board and selectboard met and appointed Haeckel to fill the vacancy by a vote of 4 to 3. Most of the planning board and selectboard members had already made up their minds, so pretty much meaningless questions were asked of the candidates just to convey the impression that the voting members were on top of things.

Both candidaters were asked their views on cell service. Hudnut was pretty strongly in favor. Haeckel gave a carefully rehearsed answer: he "supports" it for all of Egremont (whatever that means) but insists on "prudent planning" to prevent inappropriate siting. We'll see how he actually acts when the time comes.

There was an interesting (I could use a much perjorative adjective) procedural move attempted by Vining and Krancer. They wanted a written "all at once" vote rather than a "one by one" oral vote starting with Proctor and ending with Krancer. The justification was that later votes could be influenced by the reasons stated for or against a candidate in prior votes. I guess more information and dialogue is a bad thing in their minds. Cumsky strongly objected and the motion was defeated 4 to 2 with Martinson abstaining. My guess on why they pushed this procedural move was that Vining and Krancer knew that Haeckel would get 3 votes but weren't sure about Martinson's vote, and were afraid she'd be influenced to vote for Hudnut, and that would never do because dissent on the planning board is not tolerated.

Here's my take on the voting motives:

Proctor (voted for Hudnut): Probably thought Hudnut the better candidate. Also influenced by the fact he's in the process of selling the farm and may need planning board approval (or at least cooperation) to maximize proceeds.
Cumsky (voted for Hudnut): Knows how strongly townspeople want cell phone service, and thinks he gains more votes than loses them by opposing the PB bloc's candidate.
Burdsall (voted for Hudnut): Wants cell service and knows Haeckel will be an impediment.
Vining (voted for Haeckel): The tiger does not change her stripes.
Turner (voted for Haeckel): Was paying back an election debt to the PB bloc of voters. Also dislikes anything supported by Cumsky or Allen.
Krancer (voted for Haeckel): The tiger's cub does not change her stripes.
Martinson (voted for Haeckel): Sigh! Probably didn't do her homework and didn't realize how important the cell service issue was and believed Haeckel's rehearsed answer on it.

Townspeople overwhelmingly view cell and high speed internet service as the most imporatant issues facing Egremont. The appointment of Haeckel is a step backward in those efforts. Those who voted for him need to be held accountable by the electorate, and should not escape by claiming other factors were involved (especially any asinine and self-serving statements that Haeckel needed less time to "come up to speed" on PB procedures). If by some miracle the PB actually becomes proactive and successful in bringing cell service and high speed internet to town, the Haeckel voters will be somewhat redeemed. If not, they should be thrown out of office, or, better yet, the PB should be eliminated (as we almost succeeded in doing about 10 years ago) and their functions shifted to the selectboard as Massachusetts law permits.