Quarry Rezoning Postponed; New Alderman Named

BY WESLEY YOUNG
SALISBURY POST

GRANITE QUARRY - The town board was able to meet Monday by swearing in a new member, but two aldermen stayed away for a second consecutive meeting.

As a result, the town board could take no action on a proposed expansion of the industrial zoning classification on property owned by Balfour Quarry.

The missing aldermen told the Post later that they stayed away because they disapproved of the way Mayor John Linker handled the selection of Ralph Almond as a new board member back in January.

''It has to do with the manner in which it was reached, not the individual,'' Alderman Mike Brinkley said.

Brinkley and Alderman Jim Costantino were absent from the Feb. 2 meeting, which could not convene because the five-member board lacked the necessary quorum of three. Almond hadn't been sworn in yet, and Linker and Alderman Arnold Crook were the only sitting members to show up for the meeting.

The board rescheduled the meeting for Feb. 8, but Brinkley and Costantino stayed away again. This time, town attorney Chip Short told the board that since they had legally picked Almond during a January meeting, they could swear him in to create a quorum, then meet.

While Almond's presence allowed the board to meet, the panel could not take action on any matter requiring at least three voting members. The mayor only votes in case of a tie.

The Balfour Quarry zoning issue is one requiring at least three voting aldermen. With the two aldermen absent, the board could take no action.

Brinkley said Tuesday he's waiting to talk to Linker, but said he plans no more deliberate absences from the Granite Quarry board. He said he stayed away to ''buy some time,'' but will attend future meetings.

Linker said Brinkley was upset because during the selection process to pick a new alderman, Linker had at first supported Brinkley's choice of David Marple for the seat. When the board voted, three aldermen - Linker, Arnold Crook and Kim Cress - supported Almond, and two - Brinkley and Costantino - supported Marple.

''I think they are mad at me because I did not support their candidate,'' Linker said of the two missing aldermen. He said that he had initially supported Marple, but changed his mind because of Almond's greater experience in town matters.

Linker said he thinks the board will support the quarry's rezoning request, when it finally comes before the full board. While some quarry neighbors oppose the expansion of the industrially zoned quarry property, Linker maintained it will let the business move machinery further into the pit and will hopefully cut down on noise complaints.