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A good move by County P&Z chairman
Cochise County planning and zoning chairman, Jim Lynch, did a good thing last week when he recommended changes to an ordinance governing attendance at commission meetings.
If the revisions Lynch has proposed are adopted next month, the chairman will begin to get a handle on a continuing problem for one of the most powerful government committees in Cochise County.
Last November our sister publication the Herald/Review called attention to the fact that not once, at any of the nine meetings held by the planning and zoning commission up until that report, had all nine members been in attendance.
At times, in fact, the group lacked a quorum for doing its business, frustrating people who needed action by the commission to move on in the process of permitting construction projects or other developments.
Lynch has proposed new rules that will address two major issues dogging the commission.
First, the new ordinance would direct the commission secretary to issue a "quorum call" in the week prior to a scheduled commission meeting.
Secondly, the secretary then reports to the chairman, who in turn, has the authority to contact the commissioners planning to be absent.
The planning and zoning commission is a volunteer group that recommends to the county board on all sorts of issues.
Last fall, for example, the group considered a zoning permit for a medical marijuana dispensary. It has also, just recently, put forth a recommendation on the development of a solar facility near Douglas to provide electric power for Cochise County facilities.
Full representation of all parts of the county can only be accomplished when commissioners are in attendance at these meetings.
Cochise County residents deserve that representation, and we're glad to see the commission chairman step forward with a plan to make it happen.
If the revisions Lynch has proposed are adopted next month, the chairman will begin to get a handle on a continuing problem for one of the most powerful government committees in Cochise County.
Last November our sister publication the Herald/Review called attention to the fact that not once, at any of the nine meetings held by the planning and zoning commission up until that report, had all nine members been in attendance.
At times, in fact, the group lacked a quorum for doing its business, frustrating people who needed action by the commission to move on in the process of permitting construction projects or other developments.
Lynch has proposed new rules that will address two major issues dogging the commission.
First, the new ordinance would direct the commission secretary to issue a "quorum call" in the week prior to a scheduled commission meeting.
Secondly, the secretary then reports to the chairman, who in turn, has the authority to contact the commissioners planning to be absent.
The planning and zoning commission is a volunteer group that recommends to the county board on all sorts of issues.
Last fall, for example, the group considered a zoning permit for a medical marijuana dispensary. It has also, just recently, put forth a recommendation on the development of a solar facility near Douglas to provide electric power for Cochise County facilities.
Full representation of all parts of the county can only be accomplished when commissioners are in attendance at these meetings.
Cochise County residents deserve that representation, and we're glad to see the commission chairman step forward with a plan to make it happen.
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