Board of Appeals members agree to seek five-year reappointments after debate over process
May 27, 2026 | Ellsworth Board of Appeals , Ellsworth, Hancock, Maine
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The Board of Appeals moved to record that members Steve Shay and Jared Wilbur said they would accept five-year reappointments and to forward those records to the city council, after several members questioned whether the board should recommend its own membership.
The discussion began when the board introduced the item to reappoint Shay and Wilbur to five-year terms and asked if anyone wanted to speak before action was taken. Several members described the practice of boards recommending their own members as "highly unusual," and asked whether the council had enacted a rule or whether the change came from management policy.
"I think what should happen is that Jared and I should express whether or not we want to serve again," Board of Appeals member Steve Shay said, urging the board to record the members' consent and forward the record to the council for formal appointment. Members clarified that only the city council can make the appointment and that the board's role is to note members' wishes and refer the names.
Board members also discussed procedural precedent. One participant said that, historically, the CEO was asked whether they wished to continue and the council then made appointments; others said the board should ask candidates during a regular meeting or when a term is expiring and then note the candidate's response in the minutes.
A motion was made to adopt the proposed method of handling reappointments — asking members if they want another five-year term at a regular meeting and recording their consent — and to put in the minutes that Jared Wilbur and Steve Shay agreed to serve another term. The motion carried on a voice vote.
Earlier in the meeting the board moved to adopt prior minutes from the record-keeping entry indicated as 12:22. The meeting concluded after members agreed on the record language and signaled they would forward the recommendation to the city council, which remains the authority that formally appoints members.
The discussion began when the board introduced the item to reappoint Shay and Wilbur to five-year terms and asked if anyone wanted to speak before action was taken. Several members described the practice of boards recommending their own members as "highly unusual," and asked whether the council had enacted a rule or whether the change came from management policy.
"I think what should happen is that Jared and I should express whether or not we want to serve again," Board of Appeals member Steve Shay said, urging the board to record the members' consent and forward the record to the council for formal appointment. Members clarified that only the city council can make the appointment and that the board's role is to note members' wishes and refer the names.
Board members also discussed procedural precedent. One participant said that, historically, the CEO was asked whether they wished to continue and the council then made appointments; others said the board should ask candidates during a regular meeting or when a term is expiring and then note the candidate's response in the minutes.
A motion was made to adopt the proposed method of handling reappointments — asking members if they want another five-year term at a regular meeting and recording their consent — and to put in the minutes that Jared Wilbur and Steve Shay agreed to serve another term. The motion carried on a voice vote.
Earlier in the meeting the board moved to adopt prior minutes from the record-keeping entry indicated as 12:22. The meeting concluded after members agreed on the record language and signaled they would forward the recommendation to the city council, which remains the authority that formally appoints members.
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