The East Bethel City Council voted 3-2 on April 13 to appoint Lindsay Crescenzo to the Planning Commission over current Economic Development Authority President Julie Lux, despite the Planning Commission’s own 3-2 recommendation for Lux.
Council Members Tim Miller, Jim Smith and Suzanne Erkel voted for Crescenzo. Mayor Ardie Anderson and Council Member Brian Mundle voted for Lux.
City Administrator Matt Look said the city solicited applications to fill the seat after Tanner Balfany stepped down from a term set to run through Jan. 31, 2027. The appointment fills the remainder of that term.
The city received two applications, from Crescenzo and Lux. After interviewing both candidates, the Planning Commission recommended Lux on a 3-2 vote.
After Anderson, with a second from Mundle, moved to appoint Lux, Miller said the council had previously returned the Economic Development Authority to its original form as a body made up of City Council members. The council voted May 12, 2025, to phase out citizen membership on the authority.
Miller said he had gained a great deal of respect for Lux in her current role and did not believe the city would benefit from moving her from the Economic Development Authority to the Planning Commission.
“I have no problem sitting in the EDA and relying on her direction and her expertise, because she’s been there for a long time,” Miller said. “And it actually carries over longer on a term, so to speak.”
Miller said Crescenzo had a “phenomenal” interview and that the city would gain more by adding a new voice to the Planning Commission while keeping Lux where she was both comfortable and needed.
“I think we’re losing one very good committee member, and moving another very good committee member to a different and shorter position with the city,” Miller said.
Erkel agreed, saying Lux was brilliant and brought valuable expertise through her work on the Economic Development Authority. She said Crescenzo, an engineer, also would bring skills and perspective the city had not had before.
“I still think Julie has a couple years as an EDA member,” Erkel said, “and there’s a good possibility that we may lose another planning commission member. But until then, I want to get as much information and knowledge from Julie as possible.”
Smith said Lux had served the Economic Development Authority well for years and that Crescenzo also could help the Planning Commission and city residents.
Mundle said that while he understood the support for Crescenzo, Lux had made the decision to apply for the Planning Commission seat. He asked whether the council should table the item and ask Lux what she wanted to do. Smith and Erkel said they did not think that was necessary.
Anderson said Lux had chosen to apply because she wanted to be more involved in city work and not serve on a body that meets only once or twice a year.
“She wants to be more productive through the city,” Anderson said.
The motion to appoint Lux failed 2-3, with the same split later used to approve Crescenzo.
After that failed vote, Anderson said the council should consider city transparency and the respect it receives from the Planning Commission.
“I think we’re doing it an injustice by doing this,” Anderson said.
Erkel and Smith both noted that the Planning Commission recommendation had not been unanimous, while Miller said appointing Crescenzo would be a win-win for both the Economic Development Authority and the Planning Commission.
Mundle said his vote was not against Crescenzo, praising her background and education, but reflected his desire to follow the Planning Commission’s recommendation.