North East Planning Board member named

NORTH EAST — In what has turned out to be a three-month saga filled with both drama and anticipation, a decision was finally rendered regarding the appointment of the seventh and final member of the North East Planning Board last Thursday, March 10. With a vote of 4 to 1, the Town Board voted to appoint Millerton resident and businessman Chip Barrett to the Planning Board, thus ending the community-driven movement to have former Chairman Henry Klimowicz return to the board on which he spent the past decade volunteering.“I felt really good,” Barrett said when he talked about receiving the news. Barrett, owner of Ledgewood Kennel, currently sits on the town’s Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA); he will resign from that volunteer position to instead volunteer on the Planning Board. “I’m going from one board to the next, which is great because it’s not that I know everything about zoning, but it’s been over 10 years and I like learning new things and having new experiences, and there are a lot of challenges for the Planning Board right now and I think I could be a good fit. I’m happy they picked me.”While Klimowicz could not be reached for comment before press time, he had said before the decision was made that he would be “OK” with any verdict handed down by the Town Board. The former chairman said he enjoyed his time on the Planning Board and learned much while serving in that capacity, but also acknowledged he had “plenty of other things” to keep him busy. Klimowicz is a successful sculptor and had a recent exhibit at the Berkshire Museum, where he also held workshops teaching his craft. He also has a daughter with his wife, Millerton physician Dr. Kristie Schmidt.The scuttlebutt concerning the appointment arose at the town’s organizational meeting in January, when the Town Board did not reappoint Klimowicz to the Planning Board, either as chairman or as a general member. The Planning Board terms are for seven years while the chairmanship position is appointed annually. The Town Board’s action, or lack thereof, caught everyone by surprise. Councilmen Steve Merwin and Tim Shaffer said their decisions were based on complaints they had received from applicants about how Klimowicz had treated them. Town Supervisor Dave Sherman, who stated for the record that he had never received a single complaint about Klimowicz, expressed his unease about the episode last week, as he did when the controversy began.“My concern has been when we have input coming to board members or complaints about the Planning Board, for instance, I don’t think Town Board members went to any Planning Board meetings or sat down with Planning Board members [to discuss their concerns],” Sherman said, adding he wasn’t sure if the reported complaints about Klimowicz were objective in the first place. “If that’s the case, I think we need to convey that information to the Planning Board and talk about it as part of what I consider good management and business practice.”Additionally, the supervisor wanted to let the public know if anyone has issues with a town representative, the Town Board’s door is always open.“I want to make sure people are aware to call us. We’re not in a bubble,” he said. “If there are legitimate issues that need to be addressed, do call.”The decision not to reappoint Klimowicz motivated a number of area residents (119 to be exact) to join forces and organize a petition drive, which called for the Town Board to reappoint him to the Planning Board. At the time, Klimowicz said he was moved by the gesture.Sherman, the one dissenting vote last week in the motion to appoint Barrett, said he thought Klimowicz’s years of service on the Planning Board stood to be recognized with another term. He urged the rest of the board to make the same consideration.“For myself, I got to know Henry as a member of the Planning Board and through his chairing duties for the town, and I have respect for his input,” Sherman said. “My feeling is we have someone as dedicated as he is, with experience. For the most part, he’s someone who is reasonable and thoughtful when dealing with the public and I’d be inclined to continue with him in office.“That’s who I’d want to vote for,” the supervisor continued. “I’m not saying the other candidates are not qualified. They are, and it disturbs me that I have to make a choice.”The third candidate seeking the Planning Board seat was Millerton Deputy Zoning Enforcement Officer Nancy Brusie. Councilman Carl Stahovec followed Sherman’s comments with his own.“It’s not fun to make decisions like this, but we have to,” he said. “I also appreciate the fact that Henry has dedicated himself as chair and as a Planning Board member and served to the best of his abilities. I don’t like making these decisions, but we have to do it.”Without further ceremony, Merwin then moved to appoint Barrett to the Planning Board. Councilmen Dave McGhee, along with Shaffer, Stahovec and Merwin himself supported the motion; Sherman voted against it. The motion passed.Afterward, Merwin spoke once again.“I would like to extend a thank you to Henry for serving the town of North East for 10 years,” he said.“And the board should welcome Chip to the Planning Board,” Sherman added.Barrett, for his part, said he’s looking forward to getting right to work. He said the current North East supermarket application sounds especially interesting but knows there are plenty of other applications that will draw his eye as well. One thing he understands, he said, is that balance will be key.“I fully understand that too much development can be a bad thing,” he said. “But I’m a conservative person, though I also vote the issues and I use my brain, too. I also feel that our area is going to grow whether we like it or not, so I think we should do it the right way and set up for it or we will be taken over by a bunch of lawyers.”Barrett will have to step down from his position on the ZBA in order to serve on the Planning Board. Although he said he will miss that role, he added the board is in good hands, headed by Chair Julie Schroeder and manned by a number of knowledgeable volunteers. The ZBA will now be seeking a new volunteer; to express interest, contact Schroeder via the Town Hall at 518-789-6538. Barrett also volunteers on the town’s Zoning Review Committee, a group he will be able to continue serving with while sitting on the Planning Board.