San Gabriel : Panel Member Keeps Post

Planning commission member Robert Mattison will be allowed to keep his seat until his term expires in January, even though he moved to La Verne three weeks ago, making him technically ineligible to serve.

At Mattison’s request, the City Council decided Tuesday to make a temporary exception to a city code requiring all planning commissioners to be “residents of the city and registered voters during their respective terms of office.”

Mattison said in an interview that he decided to “stay and fight” for his post because he was upset at being told to resign after moving. He added that he thinks the city ordinance on residency is vague as it relates to commissioners who move.

Mattison, who served six years on the Parks and Recreation Commission, is ending a two-year term on the planning panel.