Planning Commissioner Tom Fennell has tendered his resignation from the Fillmore Planning Commission. He is the fourth Commissioner to do so, citing unlawful interference, lack of cooperation, disrespect, and unprecedented meddling by the Fillmore City Council majority (Gayle Washburn, Patti Walker, Jamey Brooks, and Brian Sipes) in the Commission’s affairs.

The controversy between the Commission and the Council majority began in July after the majority attempted to appeal what they believed was a decision of the Commission to approve a Verizon cell tower in town near the railroad tracks. No such decision had been discussed, and the majority’s move to act against such an alleged approval was cited by Verizon’s legal counsel as a federal violation of the Telecommunications Act; a lawsuit was threatened against the city in a July 11, 2011 letter from Verizon’s attorneys.

The council majority denied any such attempt but at the August 23 council meeting, Washburn (appointed mayor) was finally forced to admit that her denial was false.

The council majority, particularly Brooks, Sipes and Washburn, made numerous disparaging comments about the Commissioners (all long-time volunteers) which were demeaning, false, and disruptive.

The city is now seeking four new Planning Commissioners to replace those who have recently resigned.