Present: David Cooper, Pat Liddle, John Stelling

Chairman Cooper called the meeting to order at 6:55 p.m. Motion by John Stelling with 2nd by Pat Liddle to approve the April 29, 2008 minutes. All in favor.

Discussion of the Simmons matter. They have done all that the ZBA asked. They submitted their plans to the ZEO, buffers have been laid out and are intact. They blasted to get the house low enough to comply.

Chairman Cooper has asked the town board to find prospective ZBA members. The ZBA will vet the candidates. John’s daughter, Sandy Haakonsen, is one of the applicants. The Canaan ethics board reported that it’s OK for two family members to be on the board at the same time. David read their letter aloud. There is no specific article in the Canaan ethics law that prohibits her from being eligible. They also stated there should not be more than two members of a family on a board at one time. In the ZBA’s case, a family could make a quorum. The other candidate is Bill Wallace.

John’s term is up but he is willing to sign up for another five years. David will recommend this to the town board. David has proposed to Supervisor Keaveney that the ZBA have 5 members plus an alternate. Motion by David Cooper that the ZBA propose to the town board that in addition to 5 regular members, the town board designate one alternate who would attend meetings and be ready to step in. 2nd by Pat Liddle. Discussion of how it would work. The alternate would have to be familiar with the record of a matter to deliberate and vote. Once the alternate hears a file, we would expect them to follow through with it. In cases of vacation, illness, etc., the alternate could step in. The ZBA can develop guidelines if there are none. Chairman Cooper says there is a process for this. All in favor. He will write a letter to the town board.

Discussion of vetting process. The 5th member will fulfill Jean Dickason’s term, 4 years. The alternate would be 5 years. Chairman Cooper says we will perform the vetting at the next regular meeting.

Discussion of the new zoning laws. David requests 7 copies for the ZBA. David wants a workshop, led by the town attorney and providing continuing education credit, on the new laws. This to take place after the new appointments.

Clerk will provide a simple letter to the town board from the ZBA before the 2009 organization meeting on January 8th requesting that John Stelling be reappointed to the ZBA for a 5-year term. The ZBA has not decided on a chair or deputy chair. Clerk will prepare a 2nd letter over David’s signature requesting that the clerk be reappointed for 2009.

Motion by Pat Liddle with 2nd by John Stelling to adjourn at 7:33 p.m. All in favor.

For the Board of Appeals,



Julie Alexander, Clerk

Back to index of Meeting Minutes