St. Germain town board removes supervisor from zoning committee

During its Jan. 25 meeting, the St. Germain Town Board voted to relieve supervisor Brian Cooper of his duties as a member of the town’s zoning committee.

Town chairman Tom Christensen began discussion of the subject by making a motion “to remove Brian Cooper from the zoning committee and replace him with Paul Novorolosky, effective immediately.”

“And why is this?” Cooper asked. “This is the first I’m hearing about it.”

“Well, this is not the first time you’re hearing about it,” Christensen replied. “I talked to you yesterday, Brian, so don’t say it’s the first time. And I think we did talk about reasons why we are.”

“As chairman, our ordinance says I am to recommend to the town board a person or persons to be on the committee, and they are approved by the town board to sit on the committee,” Christensen said. “I believe it’s in the best interest of the Town of St. Germain to replace you with another person.”

Christensen said supervisor Ted Ritter, who is also chairman of the zoning committee, “has come up with a person that will serve on the zoning committee. So I’m making a recommendation to the town board to replace you ... I’m doing the recommendation as the chairman of the town board — which is what my duty is — and allowing the town board the decision as to whether or not to vote in favor or not in favor of doing this.”

“I guess I wanted to know: Brian, are you wanting this to happen?”, asked supervisor Kalisa Mortag.

“I did not initiate this; no,” Cooper replied. “I had no intention of leaving the zoning committee.”

“I initiated it,” Christensen said. “Like I said, I think it’s in the best interest for us to change after discussions with the chairman of the committee, two of the members of the committee, and also the zoning administrator.”

The Lakeland Times asked Christensen to elaborate.

“I believe it’s in the town’s best interest,” Christensen replied. “Mr. Cooper has, through the time he has spent on it, he’s participated in the meeting. He’s done a good job. I believe that he has thoughts that he communicates. Unfortunately, the method that he communicates his thoughts is sometimes offensive to others on the committee. And also, not in a respectful nature, as I’ve been told by — like I said — two committee members, the chairman, and also the zoning administrator. So those are reasons why I feel it’s in the best interest for the operation of the committee to replace him.”

“Has anyone discussed with Mr. Cooper these issues and tried to resolve them with him before now?” Mortag asked.

“I have not had that type of conversation with him,” Christensen replied. “My conversation was yesterday, telling him what I thought needed to be done, and giving him a heads-up before the agenda came out with the item on it.” 

“When I’m at work, and I’m working with my staff, if there’s an issue, we try to have a conversation,” Mortag said. “We try to fix the problem; try to work through it. And then, if that doesn’t work, then we move forward with different options. So that’s why I was asking.”

“OK,” Christensen replied. “Any other discussion?”

“I’m fine with the recommendation of the committee and their concerns,” said supervisor Jim Swenson.

“Well, realize — just so everybody understands — this has not been a vote by the committee,” Christensen said. “The committee has not voted to put forward a recommendation. My personal conversations were with two committee members, the chairman, and the zoning administrator. I just wanted to be clear so we don’t think about something that didn’t happen.”

When the motion came to a vote, Christensen, Ritter, and Swenson voted for Cooper’s removal. Mortag voted “nay”, and Cooper remained silent during the vote.

“Let the record reflect I heard three ‘yes’ votes, one ‘no’ vote, and I guess you didn’t vote at all, one way or the other, Brian?”, asked Christensen.

“Nope, it doesn’t matter to me,” Cooper replied.

Immediately following the meeting, The Times asked Cooper for comment. 

“I enjoyed my time on the committee and I’m glad to have served the town in that capacity,” he said. “I hope the new member has as much enjoyment as I did.”

The Times also asked Cooper whether he had ever received any complaint or notification of someone’s being offended by his conduct on the zoning committee.

“No,” he replied. “I have not.”

Cooper was appointed to St. Germain’s zoning committee in 2017. He was elected to the town board in 2018, and will continue to serve in that capacity. He is running — unopposed — for reelection in April.