If the Planning, Economic, Development and Housing Committee gives it a thumbs’ up, it looks like Mayor Segarra’s reappointment of Sandra Bobowski to the Planning & Zoning Commission will pass on through Court of Common Council.

This will extend the Terry Road resident’s tenure on the PZC from twenty years to 24.

The push for her reappointment following such a long tenure gives the impression that no potential commissioners are lining up for service, but that is inaccurate.

In August 2014, Albert Gary and Lucas Karmazinas had been up for appointment to the commission, but after two months — at a time when every Council meeting seemed saturated with stadium-related decisions —  that item was withdrawn.

That is in spite of West End resident Karmazinas’ background as an architectural historian, with involvement in the Hartford Preservation Alliance, Jewish Historical Society of Greater Hartford, and his own company, FuturePast Preservation. Karmazinas, a registered democrat, is involved in several NRZs, in addition to his work in historical preservation.

Gary, also a West End resident and registered democrat, has decades of experience in construction and real estate development. He has sat on various boards and has supervised work on projects in Hartford, New Haven, and elsewhere in state.

With both individuals fulfilling the requisites regarding expertise, the dismissal of that agenda item raises questions.

In mid-October, John Thomas, a democrat living in the Northeast neighborhood, was appointed, while commissioners, Valerio Giadone (democrat from Asylum Hill) and David Blatt (democrat from Southwest neighborhood), saw the City Council item dealing with their reappointments withdrawn. Later that month, Michael Chambers (democrat) and Melvyn Colon (unaffiliated) — both from the South End/Maple Avenue Revitalization Group — were appointed as regular members and Kristen Marcroft (unaffiliated) from downtown was appointed as an alternate; at that time Blatt’s reappointment passed through City Council.

The rest of the commission is composed of Sara Bronin, the Chair who lives downtown and is registered as a democrat, and Tony Koos, Vice Chair living downtown and registered as an Independent.

This leaves two Ex oficio, non-voting members and Sandra Bobowski, a West End resident and the sole registered republican of the bunch.

The number of commissioners from one political party is capped at five, for regular members, but no term limits apparently exist.

Knowing that several individuals were mysteriously prevented from being on the PZC, there are questions about why someone else would remain in a seat for decades, especially when there are reports of tensions between this individual and others on the PZC. Though the relationship does not seem as strained as the ones described in the report on the 2014 election, few ever do. Still, there are concerns when any real or perceived conflicts interfere with a group’s ability to get work done efficiently and thoroughly.

Asked if Bobowski’s reappointment is a measure to appease voters in the Terry Road/Scarborough Street area whose feathers have been ruffled by homeownership, Mayor Segarra did not respond.

On his behalf, Hilda Muñoz, the Communications Officer for the mayor, said, “Sandra Bobowski expressed an interest in being reappointed at the end of her term and Mayor Segarra agreed. Given her length of service, training and experience as former chair, he felt she was one of the most qualified and knowledgeable members of the commission.”

The Bobowski item was referred to committee in the beginning of February. An unannounced PEDHC meeting rescheduled for March 3, 2015 has been postponed to a date not-yet-announced. The Executive Assistant for Majority Leader Alexander Aponte did not respond to an inquiry about when this meeting was rescheduled.

Perhaps while the City Council is addressing the structure of the Registrars of Voters before it’s time to review the City Charter, it could also take another look at how to prevent stagnation on the various boards and commissions.

A number of individuals could not be reached for comment because the City of Hartford’s website does not contain contact information for those on the PZC, though it has been updated to provide the numbers for City employees.