AUBURN — On his recent application for reappointment to the Planning Board, Evan Cyr responded to questions with only song lyrics.

Why did Cyr want to serve on the board? Just ask Kenny Rogers for the lyrics to “The Gambler” and ABBA for the lyrics to “Take a Chance on Me.” What does he hope to accomplish? Just ask James Taylor for the lyrics to “Sweet Baby James” and Taylor Swift for the lyrics to “Wildest Dreams.”

On Tuesday, he was replaced after serving nearly a dozen years on the board, several as chairman. The application — and the subsequent debate Tuesday — highlights what has been an abnormal start to the term for the new City Council as it attempts to continue a shake-up at Auburn Hall following the November election.

However, some argue that the effort to enact change has been lacking the transparency on which the new slate of elected officials campaigned.

It was Cyr’s second application for the role in just two months after being reappointed by the previous council, only to see that vote rescinded by the new City Council two weeks later. Cyr insists that while the song lyric responses were unusual, they were sincere responses to the questions.

“There’s no point in handing in the same application again,” he said Tuesday. “I decided to get creative and think outside the box. I actually spent quite a bit of time looking through lyrics.”

But, he also believes the council’s decision not to reappoint him is a political one.

“They’re using a lot of words to try to hide the fact they are doing something political. But my fear is that they turn the Planning Board into something political and it shouldn’t be,” he said.

The City Council on Tuesday appointed Riley Bergeron, Tim DeRoche and Ryan Smith as full members. The votes to appoint Bergeron and DeRoche were unanimous, but after several minutes of debate over Smith’s appointment, the council voted 4-3 in favor. Councilors Steve Milks, Ben Weisner and Leroy Walker were opposed.

“The whole process here has been incredibly political,” Milks said, adding that he was notified the day of the meeting Dec. 18 that the council would be rescinding the appointments of the previous council. Milks also tried to amend the motion and nominate Cyr, but Mayor Jeff Harmon said it was out of order.

On Dec. 18, Councilor Rick Whiting, who is on the Appointment Committee along with Councilor Belinda Gerry and Adam Platz, argued that the previous council acted out of precedent when it made the reappointments so close to the end of its term.

Councilor Tim Cowan said he agrees that the process is political, but said, “I’d say that political process started with the outgoing council.”

He said rescinding the previous appointments was to “remedy what I thought was an inappropriate break with precedent,” also adding, “It was very clear by the voters in November that they wanted change.”

During public comment Tuesday, David Trask criticized the new council’s process for making the appointments, pointing out that the vote to rescind the initial appointments was made without public notice.

“Is precedent important, or only important when it serves you?” he asked.

Cyr, also taking the podium Tuesday, said, “Members of this council ran on a ballot of transparency. Do better like you said you would.”

When discussing Smith’s appointment, Gerry said she looked at “who put in the best resume,” and “who we thought would be right on the Planning Board.” She said one application in particular, referring to Cyr, “didn’t put in a very serious (application).”

“I urge the public to actually look at the applications and make a determination on if we made the right decision,” Whiting said. “There were several that were responsive and one that was not.”

Cyr said his opposition to what’s happening is not to maintain his position. New blood on committees is good, he said.

“My issue is the current council has chosen to, in a nontransparent way and without input from the public, dictate who they want to be on the Planning Board, or who they feel will be best to achieve the outcomes they want, rather than people who will follow the mandates of the Planning Board,” he said.

Cyr said when the Appointment Committee recently met to discuss Planning Board appointments, the committee met in executive session to discuss his application, and didn’t want Cyr to take part. He said only after a lengthy debate, and clarification from the City Clerk, was he allowed to participate.

During the session, Cyr said he spoke about his qualifications, personal philosophy, and what makes a good Planning Board member, but that since then, committee members have said all they had to go on to make a decision was Cyr’s application with the song lyrics.

Harmon said Tuesday that the Appointment Committee meetings have an open session where the public can comment.

Walker suggested Auburn should do away with the three-member Appointment Committee and instead have the council take up all applications.

Smith, who ran unsuccessfully for City Council in November, is the code enforcement officer for Mechanic Falls and is a licensed realtor. According to his application, he holds a certification in land use planning from the state.

In one of his responses, he said, “I hope to bring a neutral and fair perspective to the Planning Board.”

Smith was also involved in efforts with Harmon to repeal zone changes forwarded by the previous council.

The last line of one of Cyr’s responses is from the song “Take A Chance On Me” by ABBA.

“If you change your mind, I’m the first in line,” it reads. “Honey I’m still free, take a chance on me.”

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