Former Analyst Mike Miller Named to Planning Commission

Written by Sean Janssen, The Union Democrat September 14, 2011 01:13 pm

A former aerospace engineer and county senior administrative analyst will fill the final vacancy on the Calaveras County Planning Commission created by redistricting.   Mike Miller, 65, of Carson Hill, previously spent four years with Calaveras County administration after a career in aviation engineering and an unsuccessful campaign for clerk-recorder last fall.    District 4 Commissioner Bill Mason had to give up his seat when his Murphys home shifted into District 3.

The board previously selected Greg Gustafson, of Rancho Calaveras, to replace Lyle Wallace.

After District 4 Supervisor Tom Tryon nominated Miller, two other applicants spoke at Tuesday’s supervisors meeting to vent their displeasure.   “Tell us what you’re thinking,” Copperopolis resident Joe Kelly demanded.   “That’s the least you can do rather than making a political statement.”  “I haven’t made any statement,” Tryon responded, adding the board can make its decision for whatever reasons it chooses.

Angels Camp resident George Fry argued he was “instrumentally involved” as a county planner in a general plan formation in the 1980s.  His application for a city planning commission slot earlier this year drew controversy when city officials could not confirm a master’s degree in land use planning from the University of California, Berkeley, listed on his resume.   Fry’s resume in a subsequent unsuccessful application omitted the reference and another provided to media Tuesday only listed classes taken in land use planning.  “Given my experience, there is no learning curve. I can start today,” Fry said. “The other applicants have a learning curve which, no offense to them, makes them less ready for this assignment.”

Supervisor Steve Wilensky explained the reason for his affirmative vote for Miller.  “We have had a tradition on this board that the supervisor whose district is represented by the appointee is respected whether we agree or disagree with the appointee,” Wilensky said. “That is a tradition that we have respected.”

Miller was not present for the meeting. The board voted 4-0 to approve his appointment. Supervisor Darren Spellman was absent from the vote.