The Temple Select Board continued to struggle to fill out the open seats on the Zoning Board of Adjustment, but Tuesday night voted to appoint James Stein as an alternate to the ZBA.
Stein said that he put his name forth for consideration because he had been studying zoning cases and wanted to contribute.
“There was a call for volunteers, so I threw my hat in the ring,” he said. “And I know a bit about the ZBA.”
Stein requested that the board appoint him as an alternate so that he could gain more experience before becoming a full member. “I want to take that path so I can learn the job,” he said.
Select Board Chair Bill Ezell told Stein that as an alternate, he would have to step in for full members in certain cases, and might have to for the Stepping Stones case as Ezell himself must recuse himself.
Another applicant was on the agenda for Tuesday, but when she did not show up, the Select Board decided to eliminate her from consideration.
“We filled one position – we need two more,” Ezell said once Stein was appointed. The ZBA is still seeking applicants to fill a full member position and another alternate seat.
The Select Board also resolved to send another letter to Isabella “Boo” Martin, whose Stepping Stones Event and Farm Center is at the center of an upcoming ZBA case, reiterating the terms of her agreement with the Board. Earlier this summer, the Select Board agreed to allow Martin to continue operations while she pursued a required special exception, but abutters to her property complained to the Board that some of the terms – such as noise level and traffic – were not being observed.
The hearing for the Stepping Stones case will be held Aug. 31.