MOUNT VERNON — Participation in the Regional Planning Commission was the topic of the city’s Planning and Zoning Committee on Monday night.
Chairwoman Rebecca Jordan said the dues for the city to remain a member of RPC are almost $4,000. She questioned whether, in light of the fact that when an RPC vote is taken, the vote is a recommendation only, is not binding and carries no weight, it was worth it for the city to remain a member.
In addition, she said, the officers of RPC never seem to change, and the meetings are lengthy and difficult to sit through.
The consensus of council was that the meetings were difficult to sit through, but that the city did need to remain a member.
“I feel we have to be at the table,” said Councilman Bruce Hawkins. “If you are not at the table, then you are not going to have any say.”
“I agree it’s difficult for the city to walk away,” said Mayor Richard Mavis, pointing out that most of the issues addressed by RPC involve the city because it’s the hub of the county. “I think we should be involved.”
Mavis cited the issues brought before the RPC’s transportation committee as an example of county issues which would affect the city.
“It’s kind of difficult for us to ignore those types of issues,” he said.
Representation on RPC is based on population; the city has four votes. Mavis said most issues brought before RPC involve township issues, and over the years there have been those who feel the city should not be voting on those issues because townships have no vote on city issues.
“The city has four votes,” he said. “That could swing a close vote. Probably most times the [city’s] representatives vote with the townships, so I don’t see that as a lot of conflict, but the city’s votes could swing a vote.”
If it is worth it to remain a member, Jordan said, then attention needs to be turned to the attendance of the city’s representatives to the commission.
“I have no problem with the city staying on [as a member], but the representatives need to be there; I feel it’s really important they be there,” she said.
She also said the representatives must remember they are there on behalf of the city, not as individuals.
Council members were encouraged to give Jordan the names of anyone they know who would be interested in serving as the city’s representatives to the RPC.
