Planner awaits Moncrief move on appointment

Monday, Aug. 11, 2003 | 9:51 a.m.

Las Vegas Councilwoman Janet Moncrief is tight-lipped about whether she will keep a city planning commissioner appointed by her predecessor or make her own appointment on Aug. 20.

At issue is whether Stephen Quinn, a developer who has been on the commission for seven years and whose term was up in June, will get a second complete term that he says he wants as the Ward 1 representative to the seven-member board.

When terms expire on city boards the member stays on until either being reappointed or replaced.

The Planning Commission holds public hearings and makes planning and zoning recommendations on commercial and residential projects to the City Council.

Through a spokesperson, Moncrief said only that she is "looking at several candidates."

Mayor Oscar Goodman says he knows of at least one person who is pursuing Quinn's position. That neighbor of Goodman, whom the mayor would not name, told the Goodman he is after the appointment.

Goodman, a resident of Ward 1, said he has not lobbied Moncrief on his friend's behalf.

"I have not lobbied for anyone," Goodman said. "I respect each council person's ability to make those types of decisions."

The Planning Commission job pays $80 a meeting. The commission meets twice a month.

The decision figures to be Moncrief's first key political appointment since she took office at the June 18 meeting.

On that agenda was the proposed reappointment of Quinn -- an item Moncrief asked to be held at least 30 days while she interviewed potential candidates.

"I met with Councilwoman Moncrief on June 12 and told her that I may have been appointed by Councilman (Michael) McDonald but my loyalty is to the community," said Quinn, president of Precision Construction and a developer for more than 34 years.

"I asked her not to look at me as the enemy."

Quinn completed the three-year unexpired term of a previous board member and was then reappointed to a four-year term by McDonald, who lost his post in the June general runoff to Moncrief.

Planning commissioners are allowed to serve two full terms. Those with good records of service usually get a second term if they ask for reappointment, but each council member gets to choose appointees.

Quinn, vice chairman of the commission and its most senior member, said he wants to continue to serve because "it allows me to give back to the community on a subject that I believe I am good at."

He also does community service for the YMCA and the Shriners, he said.

"If I don't get reappointed, I would want to find another board to serve on, perhaps the police use of force review board," said Quinn, a Las Vegas resident of 31 years who has lived in Ward 1 for 29 of those years.

Asked about rumors that he would run against Moncrief in four years, Quinn laughed and indicated that if he were even to hint that he was considering such a move it would gift wrap his Planning Commission job for one of the other candidates.

"I can only say that a lot of developers are lobbying for me to stay on the Planning Commission and that is the job what I want," Quinn said.

Quinn said he will not attend Thursday's Planning Commission meeting because of an out-of-town engagement.

Moncrief could not be reached for further comment.