Open planning commission seat divides assembly

PALMER — It's usually one of the least controversial parts of the agenda but the borough mayor's list of candidates to fill vacant spots on boards and commissions sparked some interesting debate Tuesday night.

The nomination that caused the debate was for a seat on the borough's planning commission. The seat corresponds to the assembly district represented by Lynne Woods, encompassing the region of the borough past Palmer on the Glenn Highway.

Two people applied for the seat — Ken Klunder, a three-year veteran of the commission and Gary Foster, a construction contractor and project manager for Jenson and Sons Construction.

Woods, the Sutton Community Council and the Lazy Mountain Community Council all backed Klunder.

Borough Mayor Talis Colberg nominated Foster.

Colberg said he likes Klunder, but during his campaign for mayor he talked to a lot of people with opinions about the borough's boards and commissions.

“People have a concern that there's not a variety of opinion on the planning commission,” he said.

He also said that when it became clear a nomination was imminent, he got a barrage of phone calls, nearly all of them from members of, or people with ties to, the planning advocacy group Friends of Mat-Su. All of them supported Klunder. Colberg said he didn't necessarily see anything wrong with the Friends of Mat-Su.

“They've done a lot of great things and they've been a positive force in this borough,” he said.

But, he said, he fears the group might have too much influence. If the borough always acts on Friends of Mat-Su recommendations, the perception will be that the group dictates borough policy.

“This is a little bit too coordinated for people to be real comfortable with it,” Colberg said.

None of the opinions expressed around the assembly table that night contained any doubts about Klunder's qualifications. Assembly members Mark Ewing and Vern Halter both worked with him when they served on the planning commission.

“I like Mr. Klunder,” Ewing said. But, “I feel that there's a concerted effort to backdoor the mayor.”

Ewing also said he'd like to see some “new blood” on the commission and thus backed Foster. Assemblyman Ron Arvin also supported Foster.

“There are too many like-minded people sitting on boards and commissions in the Valley,” he said.

Assemblyman Pete Houston disagreed with Colberg.

“We shouldn't assume that just because there's a vocal group that that group has that much influence,” he said.

As for Assemblywoman Cindy Bettine, she said that she supported Klunder mostly because Woods did. She said it's good that assembly members have a say in who represents their district on the commission.

“It's kind of a teamwork thing,” she said.

Woods, reacting to Ewing's hope for new blood, said he should certainly get that new blood on the commission — when the time comes to appoint a commissioner from his district.

Of Foster, she said, “I do not approve of this candidate.”

Eventually Foster's nomination failed. But that doesn't mean Klunder got the seat. It will remain open until the mayor comes up with a new name.

Contact Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.

HOW THEY VOTED

Should Gary Foster be appointed to the Planning Commission?

Ron Arvin - Yes

Cindy Bettine - No

Jim Colver - No

Mark Ewing - Yes

Verne Halter — No

Pete Houston - No

Lynne Woods — No