Worthington defends former chairman

Former chairman Mark Smith's dismissal from the Planning Commission took her by surprise, said Lisa Worthington, Tuesday, now the current commission chairwoman.The Auburn City Council passed a motion to make Smith's post vacant last week after councilwoman Bridget Powers asked the council for his dismissal. Now, it's up to Powers and the council to review applicants for the vacant commissioner position.Worthington was already serving as vice chairwoman of the commission for nearly three years and took over Smith's chair position duties on election night. She was running for City Council at the time and missed the election party with her friends, despite losing by just over 480 votes, she said.When asked about Smith's dismissal as requested by Powers, Worthington insisted it had nothing to do with Smith's ability to perform his duties on the commission."She (Powers) wanted her planning commissioner (Smith) to line up with her views," Worthington said Tuesday. "A planning commissioner needs to hear public testimony before they vote. There shouldn't be a predetermined vote of 'yes' or 'no.' "Councilman Kevin Hanley appointed Worthington in 2005 as his commissioner selection. When asked why there was no discussion on Smith's removal from the commission, Hanley said the opportunity was there."It was on the consent calendar, so the public has the opportunity or an individual council member can take an item off the consent calendar for discussion," Hanley said. "But nobody did so because I don't think anyone thought it was controversial."Smith told the Auburn Journal in a previous article that Powers removed him for supporting Worthington's bid for election. Powers told the Journal it was because she wanted a commissioner who shared her ideology. Hanley has had two appointed commissioners who did not full-fill their four-year terms, he said. "One had medical problems and had to leave and another was an architect and found it conflicted with his business," Hanley said.By the end of November two more commissioner positions will be open as Nancy Nardini-Hanson's term ends in December and Commissioner Alan Young's term ends this month. Newly elected councilman Bill Kirby would select Nardini-Hanson's successor. Mayor Keith Nesbitt would pick Young's successor.Smith's chairmanship and background will not be easily replaced on the commission, according to Worthington."Mark Smith was born and raised in Auburn and he's never left," Worthington said. "He has historical references on the Planning Commission. It's a bittersweet that I'm now the chair of the Planning Commission."Worthington said she has heard a lot of comments regarding Smith's dismissal. Auburnites have been telling her "what a shame" that small-town politics are not in the best interest of residents, Worthington said.In the last commissioner meeting, the density bonus item was discussed and approved. This item could give developers the opportunity to increase the number of units on a piece of land by as much as 10 percent if certain site improvements and environmental considerations are provided, Worthington said.Baltimore Ravine, an area of about 260 acres off Auburn Folsom Road between Herdel Street and Recreation Park, holds important ramifications."The last large developable open space within the city limits is the Baltimore Ravine specific plan area," Worthington said.Worthington, a planning architect with Caltrans, noted this issue would not be on the next commission agenda for the Dec. 2 meeting at City Hall.