FERRISBURGH — After learning on Tuesday in a letter from interim Ferrisburgh zoning administrator Thomas Mansfield that he would leave at the end of 2010, selectmen decided to meet on Aug. 17 with Mansfield and the heads of the town’s planning and zoning boards to discuss the position’s job description and hours.
Mansfield, who works half-time in Charlotte, agreed to step in and work just four hours a week plus meeting time in Ferrisburgh.
Ferrisburgh officials are concerned both that it would be difficult to find a replacement who would be interested in working so few hours, and that those four hours are not sufficient to meet the town’s goals.
For example, planning commission member Bessie Sessions on Tuesday said that the board’s multi-year effort to rewrite town zoning is proceeding slowly, and lister Carl Cole said selectmen should consider whether they want a zoning administrator to take on some planning functions as well as handle applications and hold limited office hours.
On Wednesday, town clerk and former zoning administrator Chet Hawkins said planners could use help with “the little technical details” in the zoning rewrite.
“It’s really tough to write those bylaws,” Hawkins said.
Selectmen hope both zoning chairwoman Charlene Stavenow and planning chairman Bob Beach as well as Mansfield can join them at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 17.
Selectmen said the budget does have leeway for increased hours for the position.
Regardless of the approach Ferrisburgh officials settle on, Hawkins said it might prove difficult to fill the position because several other towns are also seeking to fill vacant zoning administrator positions.
Andy Kirkaldy may be reached at [email protected].