Oakland hangs out “Help Wanted” sign in community for assistance in governing

Last year, when a seat opened up on the Town Commission, rather than have the sitting commissioners nominate and vote on their choice to fill the vacancy — as was normally done — Oakland decided to widen the net and invite eligible residents to place their hats into the ring. The move proved popular among the public.

The town is again using that application process to fill a new vacancy on the commission and find candidates for the five-member Charter Review Committee, which convenes every 10 years to update the town’s governing document.

Mayor Shane Taylor, who ran on a grassroots campaign pledging change, and introduced the application process to better engage the electorate, wants to use it again to fill Seat 1 on the commission, vacated by Rick Polland, who resigned Dec. 30. Applications for Seat 1 are due Jan. 17 by 5 p.m.

“I don’t believe it was a campaign promise as much as it is the right thing to do,” Taylor texted Vox Populi Tuesday. “It gives those interested residents a chance to participate in shaping their town or community and to try and make the process as open and transparent as possible.”

Last March, Taylor won the mayor’s race with 65 percent of the vote, handily defeating Commissioner Sal Ramos, who had to vacate his seat to run for the office. Shortly after his win, the new mayor proposed the application process to fill Seat 3 that Ramos held.

The move drew interest from 11 residents, who applied and answered questions before the commission. However, the three commissioners at the time — Polland, Joseph McMullen and Mike Satterfield — unanimously nominated and voted for Ramos to reclaim his seat, while Taylor voted for a different candidate. That vote sparked anger among many residents, who tried to recall Polland and McMullen for nominating Ramos. That campaign was  unsuccessful, but residents are still seeking change on the commission.

Resident Ed Kulakowski suggested at the Dec. 10 commission meeting that the application process be instituted for choosing members of the Charter Review Committee given that other town advisory boards use applications. Town Manager Andy Stewart at the meeting said commissioners could also provide applications to residents whom they think fit the bill.

Each commission member makes one appointment to serve on the committee, which suggests changes to the town’s governing document by Oct. 1 of the year of the charter review, according to the town charter.

The deadline to submit a Charter Review Committee application was Jan. 10 and the town received nine applications, wrote Town Clerk Elise Hui in a Jan. 13 email.

According to the minutes of the Dec. 10 meeting, the town plans to hold a special workshop to interview the candidates Jan. 21, and the five members will be selected at the Jan. 28 town commission meeting.

Among the applicants are Anne Fulton, who spearheaded last year’s recall drive, and Yumeko Motley, who was the mayor’s pick to fill Seat 3 that Ramos retook.

VoxPopuli asked members of the Facebook group Oakland Residents how they felt about the application process to fill vacant seats.

“It will be nice if people have stepped up and applied for the seat and they truly pick the best qualified this time around not just because he or she is your friend,” Jan Holzworth  said.

“Yes. Stick with the applicants,” Joy Wolff said. “Friends don’t count.”

Others are skeptical that Commissioners McMullen, Satterfield and Ramos respect the application process.

“Given that the commissioners who violated the process and the will of the people previously are still in place for this selection process, why would we expect them to do anything differently?” said resident Charlie Robinson.

“It was their shocking disregard of the needs of the Town (sic) and the voices of their own constituents — that broke a lot of trust that evening,” said Diana Perrault about Ramos’ appointment to his Seat 3 last year.

Perrault said she recalled that a rubric was used to score applicants for Seat 3 and hoped such guidelines would be used again and shown to the public. Last year, only Commissioner McMullen and Mayor Taylor turned in their scoring sheets, which became public records, VoxPopuli reported. However, some residents have raised questions about McMullen’s scoring methods, and believe there was collusion between the commissioners to reappoint Ramos to his old seat.

“There is limited faith that the commission — outside of the Mayor — will change their tune and do the right things this time around,” added Perrault.