NORTHAMPTON — Wayne Feiden, one of the two finalists for the executive director position at the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, withdrew himself from consideration on Friday, just a few days after questions emerged about whether the Springfield-based organization’s election process violated the state’s Open Meeting Law.
Feiden, Northampton’s director of planning and sustainability, is urging the commission to unanimously select his fellow finalist, Kimberly Robinson.
“I was pleased to make it to being a finalist for the position,” Feiden said in an email. “I don’t want a simple error from a volunteer board to prolong the process.”
The commission’s board selected Robinson, who has led the Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Agency in Nevada since 2011, on June 27 by an 18-5 vote.
However, Northampton attorney Michael Pill questioned whether the vote had violated the state’s Open Meeting Law, because it was conducted by secret ballot.
Feiden said that prior to announcing his withdrawal, he received an email from the PVPC chairman that another vote will be held. Feiden also said that he isn’t disappointed by the result and that he loves his current job.
“She’s great,” Feiden told the Gazette, on Robinson. “It would be nice to have a unanimous vote.”
PVPC’s current executive director, Tim Brennan, is retiring.
The PVPC is the regional planning body for the Pioneer Valley region, which encompasses 43 cities and towns in Hampden and Hampshire counties.
Bera Dunau can be reached at bdunau@gazettenet.com.