Planning board chair resigning

Citing personal commitments, Reeves to step down in Dec.

Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009

"Personal commitments have made it impossible for me to devote the time required to continue serving in a manner warranted a seat on this commission," Reeves wrote.

He has been on the planning commission for seven years and is in the middle of his second term. Members are appointed to five-year terms by the county commissioners.

Brandon Hayden is the vice chairman.

"It's a good time" to step down, Reeves said Monday. "You're disturbing as little as you can" because nobody else's terms expire this year. The comprehensive plan update is off the planning commission's table as are two controversial developments planned for the Mill Cove area of California. Those projects are heading to the county commissioners for public hearing.

"They are always well prepared and I believe, objective in their decisions regarding the applications before the board," Reeves said of his fellow planning commissioners on his letter to the commissioners. "It has been an honor and a challenge to serve with each of them over the last two terms on this board."

Reeves is the owner of an accounting service in Chaptico. "I'll lick my wounds for awhile and see if I feel better" before deciding whether to re-enter public service in the future, Reeves said Monday.

In a May interview, Reeves indicated he might step down from his planning commission post. "I've let it be known I think my days are numbered because I'm burned out," he said then.

He said then he was frustrated that reaching compromise among developers, neighbors and regulators was elusive.

Commission President Francis Jack Russell (D) said Monday, "We gotta find somebody, a middle-of-the-road person" to replace Reeves.

While Reeves lives in Chaptico, the commissioners can select a new board member from anywhere in the county. The planning commission will then vote who will be the chairperson and vice chair in January.

Members of the planning commission are not required to come from particular areas of the county, but the Lexington Park area, the county's largest population cluster, is not currently represented on the board.

Planning commission member Lawrence Chase lives in Mechanicsville. Merl Evans and Martin Siebert live in Valley Lee. Shelby P. Guazzo lives in Maddox. Hayden lives in Hollywood. Susan McNeill lives in Leonardtown.

jbabcock@somdnews.com