Complaint process gets commissioner complaints

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Planning commissioner Ann Sallee distributed her draft of a complaint form last Tuesday by incorporating previous suggestions onto an existing form. Harman reminded commissioners she wanted the form to establish a track record to assist in making a decision.

Commissioner James Morris insisted it was important to have a form requesting a site visit, not a complaint form. If the site visit prompted an official complaint, then a complaint form could be used.

City Economic Development Coordinator Glenna Booth explained complaints received at city hall now go to different departments depending on what is involved. She said the Historic District Commission is developing its own complaint process, but Sallee responded she was against having a bunch of complaint forms.

Woodie Acord said the best plan would be for all complaint forms to go to one place to begin follow-up. Harman agreed there ought to be a standard process, and Booth pointed out there already is a process in place, and the proposed form might create a paper trail but would not make things easier at city hall.

Acord asked why Planning would create a complaint process if one already existed.

Harman said she wanted a history in case commissioners find themselves in the position they were in during the winter trying to consider fairly a particular situation without much history. She said she was not trying to make the case anyone has been negligent, only that she wanted better information.

Booth said she would provide more information about the existing city hall process.