Montezuma planning board members are still reeling from a decision made by the town board at its year-end meeting Tuesday night.

Their entire planning board was dissolved, and they had no inkling that they wouldn't be reappointed.

An executive session was unexpectedly called, and when the meeting resumed, William S. Saroodis, town supervisor, said he was not making any appointments to the planning board and dissolving this one, according to John Melnick, planning board member.

"We were all expecting to be reappointed," said Joe Verdi, planning board chairman. "It was like a slap in the face or a kick in the shin."

Another planning board member, Gwen Ellinwood, asked on what Saroodis based his decision.

"He said, 'Common sense,'" Melnick said. "He said he wasn't happy with the way the planning board was operating."

The town supervisor asked planning board members who wished to re-apply for their positions to submit a letter of intent or a resume before the next town board meeting. An advertisement for new board members was also being drafted.

For more, read Thursday's Citizen