Rick Dole now on Town Planning Commission

The La Conner Planning Commission has been around for more than a half-century yet has no qualms about sporting new wrinkles.

It enters 2021 with replacements in its lineup. These were unveiled at the Town Council’s Jan. 12 meeting, once again teleconferenced on Zoom.

For starters, the commission will be led by a new Town Planner.

Kevin Cricchio has been tabbed by Town Council members to succeed Town Planner Marianne Manville-Ailles, who has accepted a full-time position with the City of Mount Vernon. Cricchio has prior planning experience with the City of Anacortes.

“He has all the professional skills we were looking for,” Hayes told Council, adding “we had excellent candidates” seeking the La Conner planning post.

Cricchio will oversee permitting, planning development review and long-range planning services on an as-needed basis. His duties include shoreline administrator and SEPA (State Environmental Policy Act) administrator.

The other major change is the retirement of longtime Planning Commissioner Linda Talman, often lauded for her command of land use issues and advocacy for preservation of wetlands and increased opportunities for public recreation.

Talman, a retired teacher, had served on the Planning Commission since 1977. An independent voice on the Commission, she never hesitated to cast a dissenting vote on issues large and small when she felt it was merited.

She announced her intent to step down as a Planning Commissioner prior to undergoing back surgery last month. Typically, Talman was back on her feet within a week, resuming her regular walks around town.

Her tireless service was commended in a formal resolution that Hayes read aloud.

He praised Talman for having “unselfishly volunteered countless hours serving on the Planning Commission” and her tenacity in pursuing the goals and objectives she embraced.

“On behalf of the people of La Conner,” Hayes read, “the Town Council recognizes and thanks Linda Talman for her hard work and dedication to the Town of La Conner through years of selfless giving as a Planning Commissioner.”

She will be succeeded by her neighbor, Rick Dole, a First on First committee member and well known here for his popular “Where in La Conner is the Ghost of Tom Joad” social media photo project.

Dole will serve a five-year term, as will Marna Hanneman, who was re-appointed.

Council also

• Approved a bid of $26,222 from Axthelm Construction to replace the roof of the covered picnic shelter at Pioneer Park. The roof was damaged by fallen trees during a severe windstorm several weeks ago. The Mount Vernon company will remove and replace approximately 800 square feet of roofing.

• Approved a 10-day closure of Whatcom Street near Snapdragon Hill to help facilitate a construction project there. The closure, which is weather dependent, began Monday.

• Approved updates to the Transportation element of the Town Comp Plan and its Transportation Improvement Plan appendix.

• Heard but did not act upon a suggestion that Town business license fees be reduced 25 per cent due to economic hardships borne by local merchants due to the COVID-19 emergency.