Planning Official Kicked Out Wife Of New Councilman Voted Off Board Because Mayor ‘Uncomfortable With It’

The wife of a newly elected city councilman was booted off the planning commission here after city officials said it was a conflict of interest for both to hold city positions.

Monica VanFossen was appointed to the city’s planning commission a year ago. She was asked to resign by Mayor James Hunt because her husband, Roger, was recently elected to the City Council.

VanFossen declined, saying it was neither illegal nor a conflict of interest.

Late Tuesday, Hunt brought the issue to council members and they voted 2-1 to kick VanFossen off the board. VanFossen’s husband abstained from voting.

“Technically, it’s not illegal, but I was uncomfortable with it,” said Hunt, who was a former city attorney for Ponderay. “I told her (VanFossen) I intended to ask for her removal and that is precisely what happened.”

VanFossen claims she was targeted because she has been a dissenting voice on the planning and zoning commission and often sparked debates.

“I think it has more to do with politics than a conflict of interest,” she said. “I guess I understand their decision, but I question the city’s policy.”

Hunt said there is a precedent in the city for not allowing husbands and wives to serve at the same time, even on different boards.

In the 1980s, Bev Mitton resigned her seat on the planning commission after her husband was elected to the City Council. And, VanFossen was appointed to the board after Pam Fox resigned because her husband was elected to the council.

“Those two accepted it graciously, but Monica said she didn’t intend to go, so we voted her out,” Hunt said.

In a letter to the mayor, VanFossen noted that two brothers in this town of 500, Brad and Curt Mitton, both served on the City Council at the same time.

She also noted another planning board member, Dick Hutter, does not even live in the city limits but is allowed to serve.

All that is true, Hunt said, but the Mitton brothers were elected, not appointed, and could not be removed. Also, the city code allows for one planning member who is a non-resident taxpayer. Hutter fits into that category because he owns a business in Ponderay and pays city taxes.

“This is not because she (VanFossen) was a dissenter. That had nothing to do with it,” Hunt said.

“It was just too close a relation, and we wanted to avoid problems and possible litigation over decisions.”

The City Council must act on recommendations from the planning commission and hear appeals from those who disagree with planning board decisions.

It would be awkward, Hunt said, if the VanFossens regularly had to abstain from voting to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest.

Although she is unhappy with the decision, VanFossen said she does not intend to fight it. A new planning member likely will be appointed at the next council meeting in February.

, DataTimes