By Jessie Burchette
jburchette@salisburypost.com
CHINA GROVE ó Aldermen have apparently decided to keep the town’s controversy-plagued Zoning Board of Adjustment.
But the Board of Aldermen voted Tuesday night to go ahead with making new appointments to the board next month, filling three seats caught in limbo.
The seats are currently held by Lois Elliott, Harry Mills and Don Wagner. Elliott is chairman and Mills is vice chairman.
Their appointments technically expired months ago when the Board of Alderman failed to reappoint them at a November 2007 meeting. But under state law, appointees serve until replaced.
Aldermen have discussed eliminating the board or merging it into the Planning Board, but opted to wait until a pending court action is heard.
A legal challenge to a Board of Adjustment decision involving former Alderman Steve Stroud and his business could be resolved by October. Stroud has appealed the Board of Adjustment decision revoking his home business permit to Rowan Superior Court.
Elliott convinced the Board of Adjustment that noise from Stroud’s business adversely affected her.
Mayor Pro Tem Blair Lyseski, who presided at the meeting, said the board will consider reappointing the current members if they fill out a required application form and file it with the town.
Lyseski asked Town Manager Bill Pless to send a letter to the current Board of Adjustment members and include an application.
Lyseski said the board will consider all others who file applications.
The town board voted 4-1 on a motion by Alderman Lee Withers to make the three appointments at the October meeting.
Alderman Allen Welter voted against the motion, describing the process as “a bunch of paperwork for nothing.”Several weeks ago Welter’s wife, Barbara, drew support from the Board of Adjustment for a vacant seat but failed to be nominated by the Board of Aldermen.
Pless noted that the three appointments in October will expire in December 2009.
Three other Board of Adjustment appointments will be coming up in December.
Lyseski asked that any China Grove resident interested in serving on the Board of Adjustment call town hall at 857-2466 for an application or information.
In a non-related matter, the board agreed to hold its second training session Sept. 22 at 5:30 p.m. at the Municipal Building.