Aldermen rejected one of Mayor Lorraine H. Morton’s appointees to the Zoning Board of Appeals in December because of his ties to Northwestern.
“More political skirmishing,” said Ald. Edmund Moran (6th), who voted for the appointment. “It’s another black eye for town-gown relations.”
Ronald Nayler, NU’s associate vice president of facilities management, would have faced a conflict of interest when NU land issues came before the board, according to a citizen ethics board. Previously, he has appeared before the board representing NU.
The 5-4 rejection of Nayler on Dec. 12 symbolizes tensions between NU and Evanston, particularly over NU’s acquisitions of taxable land. The failure to push through an appointee also means the Zoning Board of Appeals temporarily must carry on with five members instead of the regular seven, often preventing it from making decisions.
The Zoning Board of Appeals makes decisions about land use in Evanston. Members serve up to two five-year terms.
Residents and aldermen in opposition – Alds. Lionel Jean-Baptiste (2nd), Melissa Wynne (3rd), Steven Bernstein (4th), Ann Rainey (8th) and Anjana Hansen (9th) – said they did not doubt Nayler’s credentials and felt he could serve the city well on another board.
“When I first heard he was being appointed, I thought ‘Oh good, she’s finally nominated someone who’s qualified,'” Bernstein said. “But then it dawned on me: It would be difficult to convince people he wasn’t serving his primary master, Northwestern.”
Those in favor of the appointment – Alds. Moran, Cheryl Wollin (1st), Delores Holmes (5th) and Elizabeth Tisdahl (7th) – said past appointees did not undergo this much scrutiny and Nayler could recuse himself from votes involving the university. Aldermen normally pass committee appointments without discussion.
“I can’t for the life of me understand why anyone would deny a citizen the right to serve on a board when that person is qualified,” Morton said.
Nayler’s work experience includes 20 years with universities, 10 with the City of Boston and service on the Evanston Energy Commission.
Meanwhile, the Zoning Board of Appeals remains two members short of its usual seven. A member of the board resigned this summer and two reached their term limit, one in February and the other in May. Since then, one new member has joined the board.
Aldermen said Morton needs to make more appointments, but candidates must first submit their applications to the mayor.
“We’ve got a lot of boards and commissions that aren’t full,” Bernstein said. “The city can’t function if these commissions don’t have quorum.”
Quorum requires the presence of four members. Seven of 22 meetings of the board, including two in December, were canceled in 2005 because of a lack of quorum, City Zoning Planner Arlova Jackson said. Tuesday’s meeting was canceled for the same reason.
“When we can’t meet, everyone on the agenda has to wait two weeks,” Jackson said.
The board also needs four votes in favor of a recommendation in order to approve it. That means even with all members attending, no recommendation can be made if more than one person dissents.
Reach Elizabeth Gibson at [email protected].
