Carefree Truth
Issue #549, February 17, 2017
Mayor Les Peterson introduced Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) applicants Heather Burgett, Ralph Ferro, Gary Hayward, Joseph DeVito, Steven Hatcher and Elena Pavlova, the candidates who had volunteered to fill the seat vacated by Mike Krahe, who is now a member of the Town Council. The Mayor said that the last time there was an opening on P&Z, there was only one applicant for the position, albeit an excellent one. This time the Town was blessed with 6 very qualified applicants, and a 7th one who applied after the deadline. He pointed out that there are many special projects; P&Z is not the only opening, and he sincerely hopes that all these applicants will become involved with other meaningful projects. Mayor Peterson asked each candidate to introduce themselves and to provide a "thumbnail sketch".
Steven Hatcher has lived in Carefree for 20 years. He was involved in military research as an aerospace engineer for 12 years, and worked in finance and investment theory for 14 years. He is here to help and hopes to add value. Mayor Peterson added that he and Vice Mayor John Crane spoke with Mr. Hatcher about water issues with the Cave Creek Water Company, and said Mr. Hatcher was as quick on the uptake as anyone he had ever met.
Issue #549, February 17, 2017
Mayor Les Peterson introduced Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) applicants Heather Burgett, Ralph Ferro, Gary Hayward, Joseph DeVito, Steven Hatcher and Elena Pavlova, the candidates who had volunteered to fill the seat vacated by Mike Krahe, who is now a member of the Town Council. The Mayor said that the last time there was an opening on P&Z, there was only one applicant for the position, albeit an excellent one. This time the Town was blessed with 6 very qualified applicants, and a 7th one who applied after the deadline. He pointed out that there are many special projects; P&Z is not the only opening, and he sincerely hopes that all these applicants will become involved with other meaningful projects. Mayor Peterson asked each candidate to introduce themselves and to provide a "thumbnail sketch".
Steven Hatcher has lived in Carefree for 20 years. He was involved in military research as an aerospace engineer for 12 years, and worked in finance and investment theory for 14 years. He is here to help and hopes to add value. Mayor Peterson added that he and Vice Mayor John Crane spoke with Mr. Hatcher about water issues with the Cave Creek Water Company, and said Mr. Hatcher was as quick on the uptake as anyone he had ever met.
Gary Hayward thanked the Mayor, Council and staff for this opportunity. He became interested in planning and zoning when a commercial development attempted to gain approval in his area. He became a NIMBY, and organized a successful community effort to defeat the project, after which Mr. Hayward ran for and was elected to the Town Council. Mayor Peterson noted that Mr. Hayward is a member of the Long Range Strategic Financial Planning Committee and is doing an excellent job.
Joseph DeVito has lived in Carefree for 15 years. He has a background in architecture, and was a General Contractor in New York for many years. Mr. DeVito feels that long range planning is important. With the limited amount of space left, the Town must critique and carefully monitor how, where and when it is used. Mayor Peterson commented that in addition to Mr. DeVito's obvious credentials in this area, he is also an excellent Santa Clause. (Lyn's note: Joe volunteered to pitch in as Santa Clause the Sunday after the Christmas Festival, when at the last minute some people had expressed interest in bringing kids to visit Santa. He did a great job! Jo Gemmill supplied one adorable young elf, and Councilman Gene Orrico volunteered to be another elf, which was hilarious. Gina Kaegi had a Santa suit for Joe, and also spent the time volunteering there. Thanks, Joe and company!)
Heather Burgett greeted the Council members and her neighbors in the audience. She has 30 years of experience in leading businesses and in building and implementing strategic plans to deliver moderate and well paced growth, and has served in leadership roles on her HOA board in the Boulders for a number of years. The Mayor said he has worked with Ms. Burgett and can attest to her ability to work well with others. But, Ms. Burgett joked, she does not make a good Santa. She doesn't have the beard.
Ralph Ferro joked that he has the Santa beard. Mr. Ferro's background is mostly in economic development. In that capacity he has dealt with many P&Zs back in California, and would like to tie the two together. If you don't have the right plan for economic development, you won't have people investing in the town. Councilman Jim Van Allen asked Mr. Ferro if he would be just as happy to work with the Town on economic development, as his resume pops out in that area. Mr. Ferro replied that he would be happy to be involved in whatever would help his little town. Mayor Peterson said Mr. Ferro is a member of the Cave Creek Water Advisory Committee (WAC) and is doing an excellent job with a very difficult twisted, knotted problem.
Elena Pavlova was unable to attend the meeting, but the Mayor said she was an impressive lady and also well qualified.
Mayor Peterson again stressed that the Town wants to keep all the applicants involved. He proposed that Heather Burgett be appointed to P&Z due to her experience as the chair of the Boulders Architectural Committee (AC). In that capacity, she has been working with Carefree Planning Director Stacy Bridge-Denzak to pull the Boulders and the Town regulations together so that every home remodel does not require an exception. (Lyn's note: Because many of the lots in the Boulders were approved by Maricopa County before Carefree's incorporation, they do not meet Carefree's requirements for that zoning district and fall under the category of Legal Non-Conforming Lots. Those homeowners often require variances when making needed improvements and positive updates to their homes.)
The Mayor also suggested that Joseph DeVito be appointed as an alternate for P&Z in the event that any of the currently seated Commissioners decide to step down. He said there was no indication that this would happen, and that all the Commissioners are performing very well. But he requested that, if appointed as an alternate, Mr. DeVito keep himself informed and up-to-date on planning issues, and work with the Town in some of the planning areas.
Councilman Mike Farrar asked the Mayor to clarify the alternate position. When the next P&Z seat opens, does Mr. DeVito automatically assume the duty, or will other applicants be considered at that time. Mayor Peterson confirmed that Mr. DeVito will occupy the next vacated seat on the P&Z Commission unless he is for any reason unwilling or unable to do so.
Vice Mayor John Crane asked if it meant that Mr. DeVito would fill in for an absent Commissioner at a meeting. Mayor Peterson referred the question to Gary Neiss, who clarified that Mr. DeVito would only be seated should a Commissioner resign. The Vice Mayor said that since Mr. DeVito was being asked to stay current on planning issues, he would make a valuable sounding board for ideas that would be coming before P&Z and the Council, and would be a real asset in that capacity.
Mayor Peterson said there are many special projects coming up including lighting, signage changes mandated recently by the U.S. Supreme Court, economic development, the Cave Creek Water situation, and strategic financial planning. Gary Hayward is already involved with strategic financial planning, and is a steadying influence. Ralph Ferro is on the Cave Creek Water Co. WAC. He hopes that the other candidates, all of whom have excellent credentials in some of these areas, will want to become involved.
Vice Mayor Crane agreed. He reminded people that there will be a meeting on February 28th to discuss economic development options for the next 2 years. The more citizens who participate giving suggestions and direction the better.
Councilman Gene Orrico reiterated that the all candidates had great qualifications, and asked if Mr. Hatcher, Mr. Hayward and Mr. Ferro would be willing to volunteer in the areas that the Mayor had suggested. He said the Town didn't want to push them into some place they didn't want to be, but that their help and expertise would be valued. The Town is entering a critical time. With only 20% left until build-out, we must find ways that will be conducive to paying for services like fire and police protection without a property tax.
The motion to appoint Heather Burgett to P&Z, with Joseph DeVito as an alternate, was unanimously approved. The Mayor thanked all the candidates, and repeated his wish that they all participate in the other areas mentioned. He said we need all the brain power and initiative we can get.
https://vimeo.com/203758510
Lyn Hitchon
Prepared by Carefree Truth
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