GRAY – The ranking member of the Town Council unexpectedly resigned Tuesday, leaving three newcomers and a chairman with one year of experience.
“I’ve hung up my spurs,” said Matthew Sturgis, because of business and family responsibilities. The assessor for Cape Elizabeth has been a council member for two years.
His resignation was announced at the end of Tuesday’s meeting.
Andrew Upham nominated Gary Foster, who has served a year, to be chairman. He was elected by a 5-0 vote.
Sturgis declined the nomination for vice chairman.
Foster said Thursday that he will miss Sturgis’ expertise on municipal matters and was surprised by Tuesday’s vote.
“This is like the blind leading the blind,” he said, but quickly added that the newcomers will “catch on quickly.”
Town Manager Mitchell Berkowitz said the council’s charter requires that it appoint a replacement for Sturgis until the next election in June 2006.
“It takes a good year for a new member to go through the entire 12-month cycle until they’re comfortable,” Berkowitz said.
Among the issues the council will be dealing with are acquiring Pennell Institute from SAD 15 and zoning ordinance changes tied to the Comprehensive Plan.
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