The Philomath City Council filled all remaining vacancies on the Planning Commission and Budget Committee during its regular monthly meeting Monday night at City Hall.
Sarah J. Coulter Mitchell was chosen by councilors to fill a Planning Commission seat with a four-year term that runs through the end of 2028. Councilors had a decision to make with four citizens applying for the position.
Council appoints Cupp to Philomath Planning Commission
The Philomath City Council filled one of two vacant seats on the Planning Commission Monday night with the appointment of local citizen Kyle Cupp. The appointment was to fill a four-year term that runs through the end of 2028. Cupp, a writer and strategist for a human resources tech company, had applied to fill a…
Mitchell, who moved with her husband to Philomath in 2022, said in her application that she is a big believer in being involved at the local level with community service as a core value.
“I have the professional background in community planning and believe that this commission will help me stay connected to the work I love to do,” wrote Mitchell, who professionally works as a contracts and grants coordinator.
While trying to attract interest in filling the seat, Mayor Christopher McMorran said he reached out to individuals that were not chosen for previous city committee opportunities, including Mitchell, who had applied for the Tree Board. Polley had applied for the vacant City Council seat that last month went to Richard Saalsaa but was also among those interested in filling a Budget Committee seat.
As a result, McMorran put his support behind Mitchell for the Planning Commission and Polley for the Budget Committee (she was all but guaranteed the seat with two applicants vying for two seats). Also applying for the commission post were Christine J. Henderson and Theodore Villella.
McMorran said he valued Mitchell’s work history.
“I was the one who encouraged her to apply for this but I also appreciated her experience working in local government and doing a lot of the work that the Planning Commission does,” McMorran said. “But I think we have four wonderful applicants so I’m happy to go with whatever direction the council feels is best.”
Councilor Jessica Andrade also voiced support for Mitchell while councilors Diane Crocker and Brent Kaseman were both leaning toward Henderson, who has an architectural background and owns a landscape design business.
Councilors later took a roll-call vote to eliminate two names with Mitchell and Henderson getting the most support. Two councilors named Villella, a semiretired entrepreneur who had been heavily involved administratively in the subdivision where he lived in Michigan.
In the follow-up vote, Mitchell was preferred by four of the six councilors. A unanimous vote on a motion to appoint her to the seat followed.
McMorran thanked all four applicants for their interest.
“I hope you will continue to stay engaged and apply for future appointment opportunities,” he said. “We really appreciate any time anyone is interested in volunteering and helping with the city.”
Mitchell joins a commission that also includes John Barlow, Kyle Cupp, Van Hunsaker, Josiah Jessen, Timothy Melott and Darlene Rose.
Coming into the meeting, two vacancies remained on the Budget Committee and with two citizens applying, there was little to discuss. Polley, an office specialist at Oregon State University, and John T. Simonson, a Corvallis Public Works employee, filled those positions.
Simonson will finish a two-year term that runs to the end of 2026 and Polley will occupy a seat that runs through the rest of this year. They were approved on a unanimous vote.
