RB Planning Board Chooses New Leaders

The Rancho Bernardo Planning Board chose new officers at last week's meeting after a tense three hours of heated discussion over bylaws and the Brown Act.

Richard House conducted the process of choosing the new seats at the end of the board meeting, which was held at the RB Swim and Tennis Club. House gave a short speech before the officer-nominating process, noting that though he originally wasn't going to run for chair, he had changed his mind due to recent meetings.

"The City has asked me to make a disclaimer of what may or may not happen during the course of the nominations for the new board," House said. "My name came up many times… they thought I’d be a good chair for the board. I declined… I ddin’t feel as if I wanted to serve in that capacity. Things changed in the past couple of meetings and the city bylaws infers that any person who serves on the nominating committee cannot serve as an officer on the board."

According to House, City Planner Brian Schoenfish said House was able to be nominated as chair so long as he made this disclosure.

Despite the disclosure, former chair Teri Denlinger said House shouldn't be able to be nominated as an officer.

"We agreed to not let a nominating committee member could serve in that position, unless there were no other candidates," she said. "We held you to that. You made a commitment to this board."

After arguments had settled down, nominees were made for chair, vice chair, secretary and treasurer.

CHAIR NOMINEES/VOTE

Lou Dell’Angela nominated House, calling him a would-be "excellent chair," as well as "honest and upright."

"This board has struggled too long with disagreement… we need someone who has some stability and an appreciation of our bylaws. I think Richard’s that person," Dell'Angela said.

Dick Katz nominated Matt Stockton.

House won the majority of the votes, making him the new chair of the RB Planning Board.

VICE-CHAIR NOMINEES/VOTE

Mike Lutz showed interest in being the new vice chair, with accolades from Dell'Angela, reinforcing the nomination.

"I think Mike is an excellent choice, I’d like to see him as vice chair," Dell'Angela said. "He believes in following the Brown Rules."

Dell'Angela and Stockton were also nominated, but stepped back to allow Lutz to take the position.

Lutz won the majority of votes, thus becoming the new vice chair of the local planning group.

SECRETARY NOMINEES/VOTE

House said Robin Kaufman has done "exceptional" at the job in her recent run as secretary, calling it the most “difficult job on the board” and “time consuming."

New board member Roberta Mikles agreed.

"Robin has done an excellent job with it," she said.

Vicki Touchstone, who had walked off the board in the beginning of the meeting but rejoined at the end, expressed interest in the position, but allowed for Kaufman to be reinstated as secretary.

Kaufman won the majority of the votes and will remain as the board secretary.

TREASURER NOMINEES/VOTE

Lutz nominated Fred Gahm to be treasurer. A majority of the board agreed and Grahm won the position and will continue as the board treasurer.