News Summary
The Lexington City Council is urging Mayor Linda Gorton to speed up her appointment submissions to avoid delays affecting city governance. The issue resurfaced after the council denied the reappointment of Janice Meyer, leading to frustrations among council members regarding last-minute submissions. Council member Denise Gray expressed concern over the disrespect shown to constituents in the slow process, emphasizing the need for thorough evaluations of appointments. Recently, the council confirmed Molly Davis for the planning commission, highlighting the urgency of timely decisions in maintaining effective municipal oversight.
Lexington – The Lexington City Council is putting pressure on Mayor Linda Gorton to speed up her submissions for vacancy appointments, particularly to avoid commissions needing to fill their own members. The issue of delays came to light following the council’s decision to deny Gorton’s reappointment of Janice Meyer to the city’s planning commission last summer. This failure to submit another name within the required 60-day window forced the planning commission to take the initiative in filling the vacancy themselves.
The urgency surrounding appointments was further highlighted in February when Gorton provided an appointee just eight working days before the deadline for council confirmation. This has led council member Tyler Morton to question whether such practices “abuse power” and slow down the decision-making process.
In several recent meetings, including one on February 20, council members expressed their discontent with Gorton’s approach to appointments. The council approved Molly Davis as the newest member of the planning commission during this meeting, indicating the need for expedience in such decisions. Gorton acknowledged the challenges in finding suitable candidates, emphasizing the importance of public scrutiny and diverse perspectives in making appointments.
The context of these delays is notable, particularly regarding the recent vacancy created by Graham Pohl, who resigned from the planning commission effective December 31, 2024. With 18 months left on his term, the council was mandatorily required to confirm a new appointee by March 1. However, Gorton submitted her selected candidate on February 18, triggering alarm and frustration among council members.
Council member Denise Gray considered this last-minute submission as “extremely disrespectful” to the constituents, highlighting that there is a pressing need for more time to evaluate appointees’ qualifications thoroughly. Sir, Vice Mayor Dan Wu reiterated the importance of the planning commission in governance, stating that the collaboration between the mayor’s appointments and the council’s consent is essential for effective community oversight.
The council ultimately confirmed Molly Davis during a special meeting on February 25. Davis, a native of Lexington and retired landscape architect with experience at the University of Kentucky Arboretum, aims to bring a focus on sustainability and climate impact while serving on the commission. Her stated priorities include consulting the urban growth master plan to balance farmland preservation with development needs and ensuring diverse perspectives are represented on the commission.
Overall, the council’s appeal to Mayor Gorton underscores the ongoing challenges in the appointment process amid pressing vacancies. The emphasis on timely submissions is seen as crucial for maintaining the efficacy and integrity of city governance in Lexington.
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