APPOINTMENT
Motion/Request:
title
MOTION to appoint Mrs. Karen Parkinson (R) 55 Rose Hill Road, Ledyard, as an Alternate Member to the Historic District Commission to complete a five (5) year term ending December 6, 2028, filling a vacancy left by Ms. Lamb.
end
Background:
Mrs. Parkinson has been an active member of the Community serving on the Town Council from 1981 - 1983.
Mrs. Parkinson is a former Town Employee working under Mayor Al Clark she was the Town’s first social worker and was instrumental in the establishment of the Social Service Board and subsequently assisted in the establishment of the Town's Youth Services.
Mrs. Parkinson is currently serving as the President Tri-Town Trail Association; and has assisted the Planning Dept in the grant writing of two DEEP Grants; and has met and interacted with multiple Town Commissions in obtaining permits for the Trail development.
Mrs. Parkinson served five years on Tri-Town Trail Committee (town Appointment) dissolved when tasks completed and they then became the Tri-Town Trail Association a 501-c-3 (non-profit) .
Mrs. Parkinson is currently interested in the preservation of the Spicer Homestead Ruins.
Mrs. Parkinson noted on her Appointment Application that she believed in Civic duty; and she has been involved in volunteering all of her adult/professional life and even more so since she professionally retired.
Mrs. Parkinson has volunteered her professional services as a Licensed social worker for Hospice and American Cancer Society counseling patients and running support groups. When her husband was stationed in Guam, she and she was employed in the mental health system she organized and established a resettlement program for displaced Vietnam families who remained on Guam.
Mrs. Parkinson noted that she has multiple skills and abilities to contribute to the Town of Ledyard where her family have lived for over 40 years.
Administrative Notes:
The Historic District Commission currently has two vacancies
• One Regular Member
• One Alternate Member (see attached Roster)
Historic District Commission Chaiman Mr. Godino has submitted an email dated December 28, 2023 requesting the following changes among the Membership (please see attached):
• Regular Member Mr. Godino be moved to Alternate Member
• Alternate Member Kelly Lamb be moved to a Regular Member
Nominating Committee Recommendation:
2/8/2024: Republican Nominating Committee endorsed Mrs. Parkinson’s appointment to the Historic District Commission (see attached).
Minority Representation - CGS 9-167a:
In accordance with Chapter IV; Section 8 of the Town Charter “Except as otherwise provided for in this Charter, the Town Council may appoint members to fill vacancies in other offices, boards, and commissions established by this Charter and by ordinance as vacancies may occur, and appointing members to such offices, boards, and commissions as may be created in the future. Such appointments shall be made by the Town Council for such terms and upon such conditions as provided in the respective ordinance”.
Chapter IV, Section 9: “In making appointments and removals, the Town Council shall act by the affirmative votes of at least a majority of all its members.
All members of boards, commissions, and committees contained in this Charter, or subsequently created under this Charter, except members of the Building Code Board of Appeals, the Fire Marshal, and the Deputy Fire Marshal(s), shall be electors of the Town at the time of their appointment and during their terms of office.”
Connecticut General Statutes
Sec. 9-167a. Minority representation. (a) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, the maximum number of members of any board, commission, legislative body, committee or similar body of the state or any political subdivision thereof, whether elective or appointive, who may be members of the same political party, shall be as specified in the following table:
|
Total Membership |
Maximum from One Party |
|
3 |
2 |
|
4 |
3 |
|
5 |
4 |
|
6 |
4 |
|
7 |
5 |
|
8 |
5 |
|
9 |
6 |
|
More than 9 Two-thirds of total membership |
(2) The provisions of this section shall not apply (A) to any such board, commission, committee or body whose members are elected wholly or partially on the basis of a geographical division of the state or political subdivision, (B) to a legislative body of a municipality (i) having a town meeting as its legislative body or (ii) for which the charter or a special act, on January 1, 1987, provided otherwise or (C) to the city council of an unconsolidated city within a town and the town council of such town if the town has a town council and a representative town meeting, the town charter provides for some form of minority representation in the election of members of the representative town meeting, and the city has a city council and a body having the attributes of a town meeting or (D) to the board of directors and other officers of any district, as defined in section 7-324, having annual receipts from all sources not in excess of two hundred fifty Thousand dollars.
(b) Prior to any election for or appointment to any such body, the municipal clerk, in cases of elections, and the appointing authority, in cases of appointments, shall determine the maximum number of members of any political party who may be elected or appointed to such body at such election or appointment. Such maximum number shall be determined for each political party in the following manner: From the number of members of one political party who are members of such body at the time of the election or appointment, subtract the number of members of such political party whose terms expire prior to the commencement of the terms for which such election or appointment is being held or made and subtract the balance thus arrived at from the appropriate number specified in column II of subsection (a) of this section.