The Leelanau Township Board approved two appointments to the township Planning Commission Tuesday night, one of which resulted in the ouster of a seasoned member.

Supervisor James Neve brought his recommendation for a reappointment of member Kalin Johnson, and the appointment of a new member, Steve Kalchik, who will replace member Marsha Beuhler. The board approved both appointments on a 4-0 vote despite vocal support from audience members to reappoint Beuhler. Both Johnson and Kalchik’s terms run three years and expire on June 30, 2010.

During public comment at the start of the meeting, Beuhler said she had learned that Neve would not be reappointing her to the commission about five minutes prior to the start of the meeting. She was first appointed to the commission in 2003.

“I came to the township board at its meeting last month and said I wanted to be reappointed and let Jim know that as well. I haven’t missed a planning commission meeting in four years. To find out that I am not being reappointed only five minutes prior to the start of this meeting shows an extreme lack of courtesy and respect on the part of the supervisor,” she said.

Beuhler’s husband Tom put his disgust with the decision a little more bluntly. “It’s low, it’s crass, it’s ungentlemanly,” he said.

Neve said he agonized over the decision on who to reappoint to the commission. He said his primary concern with the planning commission is that there is currently no representation from the agricultural community. Tom Van Pelt resigned from the commission in 2006 to avoid any conflict of interest concerns related to the Timber Shores project, since the Van Pelt family owns property adjacent to the proposed development’s property.

Neve said he reached his decision on appointing Kalchik, a third generation township farmer, Tuesday afternoon. “I did call Marsha at home, but did not get a hold of her. I deeply regret I was not able to get a hold her earlier in the day,” he said.

Neve said he had no concerns about Beuhler’s work with the commission, but he felt it was important that there be at least one person on the seven-member commission who is from an agricultural background. He said he also considered not reappointing Johnson, but that Johnson has been the lead researcher in updating the township Master Plan. “He has a lot of historical institutional knowledge as he was on the commission when it developed the existing master plan,” he said.
Planning commission chairman Tom Nelson said he respects Neve’s authority to recommend appointments to the commission, but that Neve had made a mistake in not reappointing Beuhler.

“I couldn’t be more disappointed that you’re not reappointing Marsha Beuhler,” he said.

Board members supported Neve in his reasoning, and thanked Beuhler for her service.