Village Planning Board chair quits, citing frustration

MILLERTON — Lance Middlebrook, chair of the Village Planning Board, announced his immediate resignation from the Board at a regular meetingon Wednesday, March 12.

Middlebrook, a 17-year veteran of the Board who has been chair for more than a decade, informed his fellow Board members following a routine meeting which included routine agenda items.

“We have no purpose here.They just want us to rubber stamp everything,” Middlebrook said to the three other Planning Board members in attendance: Carol Gribble, Joshua Schultz and Andrew Rebillard. Board member Patti Lynch-VandeBogart was not in attendance.

Describing the large sign on Route 22 which displays the message “Community+ Kindness” as in violation of village code, Middlebrook said: “That should have gone to us. They just took it upon themselves. That was it for me.”

The sign went up in December with the support of the Dutchess County Commission on Human Rights and Townscape, a volunteer group focused on revitalization of the Village.

In an interview, Mayor Jenn Najdek said: “Seventeen years is a long time to commit as a volunteer. We appreciate his time and want to thank him for his service.”

Najdek said she will appoint someone to fill out Middlebrook’s term.

Commenting on the large sign on Route 22, Najdek said “It was meant more as an art installation than anything else.

“We do need to work on our zoning codes. They are outdated in some respects.”

In an interview on Thursday, March 13, Middlebrook hypothetically asked: “What are we supposed to tell an applicant who wants to have a sign that is too big based on our code, when they see a 150-foot sign on Route 22?”

Board members were surprised by Middlebrook’s announcement, and spent several minutes debating their next move, even considering dissolving the current Board.

Middlebrook said the following day that the Board decided to remain intact, acknowledging that someone will have to serve as chair.

However, the sentiment expressed by Middlebrook was shared by other members present, especially with regard to the large sign along Route 22, but also with what they described as lax code enforcement in the Village.

Caroline Farr-Killmer, the Board secretary, said she maintains a spreadsheet of code violations and actions taken.

The Board’s next meeting is scheduled for April 9. Middlebrook said he won’t be there, because he was handing his resignation to Mayor Najdek, which he did the next day.

Members of the Planning Board are appointed by the mayor to five-year terms. Middlebrook’s current term would have expired in June.