Now that the pandemic has started to ease up and business is getting somewhat back to normal, the deep divisions in Summerfield politics are showing themselves full force again.
Proposed changes to development ordinances, a large, proposed project by developer David Couch and a new debate over the fitness for the job of Summerfield Town Planner Chris York are all elevating tensions in the town once again.
That tension was obvious this week in an email exchange between Summerfield Town Councilmember John O’Day and Don Wendelken, a local newspaper publisher who’s been very outspoken against what he sees as a complacent Town Council that, he says, lets developers have their way and keeps York employed with the town when he should be let go.
In its most basic form, the lion’s share of disputes in the town come in regard to the proper pace of development, and York is seen by some citizens as a problem. In two high-profile incidents, York has had to apologize publicly after lashing out at citizens on social media and in texts. He has been suspended, but some in the town say he should be gone completely.
In a recent email to O’Day and other town officials, Wendelken was critical of York remaining as town planner. He stated his reasons why.
“In case you were interested,” he wrote. “But, of course, most of your minds are made up by now, and only November and the next election could change things? Pressuring the planning board to move the date up is pretty obvious, and all of you tend to forget – you do not own Summerfield. Most of you will laugh my email off, and I expect nothing less.”
Wendelken added, “No staff job is guaranteed, and I am still amazed Chris is still employed based on current and past actions.”
Wendelken pointed out previous actions by York that Wendelken said demonstrated “abysmal judgment.”
Wendelken also wrote, “The more Scott [Summerfield Town Manager Scott Whitaker] and the council protect Chris, and he messes up ‘again,’ you would undoubtedly be subject to a lawsuit.”
He concluded, “Thanks for opening this email, and as suspected, most of you will delete it.”
Wendelken’s email clearly ticked off O’Day, who responded to Wendelken: “Do you know my mind is made up? So, do tell, what is my mind made up to? I find that insulting. I am, by law, required to give every proposal that comes before the Council a fair hearing. I have always and will continue to do so.”
The Summerfield Town Council has several key development-related decisions to make in the second half of 2021.
Chris York publicly said staff (himself and Scott Whitaker) supports the Couch Text Amendment and recommended planning council vote YES, and now pushing to vote YES, via zoom meeting Aug 2 and 5, with not a word from the people of the town, so town council can vote, probably yes Aug. 10. Really urgent to suppress and eliminate any public comments. Our Summerfield community has terrific experts and professionals in many ways — but doesn’t want to hear from the people who live here., but say they are required to listen to every word from David Couch!
John O’Day eagerly voted YES June 8 to radically increase town density, 60%++ and high density apartments and now says “he doesn’t know?”
Gail Dunham, as usual you put out a plethora of misinformation. Please post WHERE Chris York and Staff recommended that the Planning Board vote yes. Of course, as usual, you want post any proof, because there isn’t any.
And you know, because you were at the meeting and your running mate is Teresa Perryman, that the council returned the quadplexes to the Planning board for recommendations and to work on the definitions for multi-family. Of course, Teresa Perryman voted no to sending it back to the Planning board so maybe she agrees with the increase density.
And you know that the change in quadplexes was never added to the passed UDO and will have to come before the Planning Board and the Town Council in a Text amendment with 2 Public hearings. This why you were a poor Mayor the first time and should not be re-elected.
Please work for Summerfield, not against Summerfield.
Chris York knew Jan 2020 and Feb 2020 that the Development Ordinance had to be changed from 160A to 160D and he never got the job done by the Jan. 1, 2021 due date. The current U.D.O. Unified Development Ordinance, with major changes by council members Jun 8th has NEVER HAD A PUBLIC HEARING. Town rules state need the ordinance in writing before Public Hearing. He had two re-zonings in two years. If your job was to correct a 400 page document and you had a year to do the job — would you get it done to keep your job? There are serious consequences to homeowners for this negligence. This is not personal — it is about getting the job done legally and serving the hard working taxpayers and our families. Sorry that this is a public issue and negative impact on the professionalism of Summerfield.
Town has terrific employees, and thank you, and we appreciate their work and the town programs like the Athletic Fields that serve our community.
The biggest negative impact on Summerfield is Gail Dunham lives there and is running for Mayor again.
Gail Dunham, the current UDO absolutely had the required number of Public of hearings. And Chris York absolutely did his job on the UDO. The council made changes to a draft UDO, which they are allowed to do. Once they voted and approve the draft UDO anything from here on is a text amendment and must go back to the Planning board. That is what they are doing with the quadplexes.
You are the problem in Summerfield with your attack of our finance officer when you in office, with your support of a candidate/council member that didn’t live in Summerfield, with your lawsuit. And please don’t pretend you have supported the Athletic fields.
Please start working for Summerfield.
Summerfield leaders are out of control.
1. Town Planner can’t answer questions and did not have correct documents at meetings. Didn’t know answers on how this all works with Couch and zoning. Is rude to people.
2. The Town still has posted an OLD VERSION of the Couch Text Amendment to confuse people.
3. The Town just passed a new UDO WRITTEN BY THE ZONING BOARD. Then members of the same Zoning Board might vote a month later to say they were dumb and didn’t know what they were doing for years, because they need to change the UDO right away. It makes no sense to change something you just wrote. Unless Couch has that much influence over Town.
4. The Zoning Board says they won’t vote on Couch plan until September. Then two days later sneak in new meetings the week of August 1st so that the Town Council will sneak in a vote on August 10th. Is this to confuse citizens? To stop speakers before Council vote?
5. Most people don’t want this Couch plan, or high density or water lines but the Town doesn’t care about that or all of us who just live here and don’t want your big plans.
Did or will any council member or mayor received compensation ?
Good Lord, you people really come up with some creative arguments. Compensation? Really? The article is about Chris York and his role at Town Planner. The fact is that while he has experience, he is extremely unprofessional and has been, and continues to be monitored by the American Institute of Certified Planners. His position is much more exposed to the public than the great employees that work with parks. His supervisor is the ever troubled Town Manager, Scott Whitaker. Now THAT is where you start looking for issues. The Planner, everything he does is subject to review and approval by the Town Manager. Scott Whitaker has not only encouraged this confusion but likely has not tried to step in to at least help. Normally he is the “hands on/voice of the Town.” He has let staff take the hit on this. As for the citizens of Summerfield, you get what you deserve. No approval means no tax base. Your town cannot survive without some growth. Scott is spending your nestegg on projects that do not pay back anything to the budget. Without growth you will go broke. Why not let good growth, from a local citizen take place. Or let more New Yorkers come in and slash and burn the Farm and building a bunch of crappy houses. Ive heard this and the more I think about it, I think Couch is the best bet for .Summerfield. Otherwise you will fail.