Stamford commission debates tightening attendance rules for planning members

The commission reviewed proposed edits to the attendance policy for board members. One member said the existing standard—"unexcused absence of any member for more than 3 total meetings over a period of 1 term"—was lenient given the new twice-monthly meeting cadence. Members debated whether to require three consecutive absences, to set a calendar-year cap, or to remove the percentage-based threshold; several favored simplifying to three unexcused absences per year while eliminating the consecutive requirement.

The group agreed the chair should retain discretion to review participation and that a majority vote could advance a removal recommendation to the Select Board. Commissioners asked staff to retype the revised language and return it for inclusion in the bylaws.