When he hosts Town Council meetings, Mayor Ramon Hayes tries to limit his input, often choosing to defer discussion to others.

But as a member of the audience at the teleconferenced Jan. 19 Planning Commission session, Hayes felt free to speak at length.

He logged in to offer words of encouragement to panel members and pay tribute to outgoing Town Planner Marianne Manville-Ailles and retiring longtime commissioner Linda Talman.

"I want to thank the commissioners for their service,” Hayes said at the close of a two-hour meeting that delved into housing density guidelines and exterior design and...