The Farmville Planning Commission will soon see three new faces in an effort by the town to increase the representation of those serving on the advisory body.

During its June 14 meeting, council members appointed Cameron Patterson to represent Ward C with a term beginning July 1 and ending June 30, 2021, Patrick Crute to represent Ward D with a term beginning immediately and ending June 30, 2018 and Jerry Davenport to represent Ward E with a term beginning July 1 and ending June 30, 2021.

In March, council members agreed to add two at-large members to the ranks of the planning commission, agreeing that the commission would mirror the council, meaning each ward would be represented on the commission.

Before the June 14 appointments, only Wards A and B were represented by the sitting members on the commission. 

“If you look at the members, you’ll end up for this one-year period with eight members to bring it in line, in then in next June … one person will come off,” Town Manager Gerald Spates said during the council’s June work session regarding the recommendations of the council’s personnel committee on the appointments.

Abby O’Connor, who currently serves on the commission, was appointed to serve until June 30, 2021 as an at-large member. Chuck Ross, who is also a current member, was appointed and will serve in an at-large capacity until June 30, 2018.

The term of Sherry Honeycutt, who represents Ward A, serving as chairman of the commission, will remain the same, ending June 30, 2018, according to the town, as will that of John Miller’s, who represents Ward B.

“L.D. Phaup’s term will end on June 30, 2018,” according to town documents. “He will be one of the candidates eligible for an at-large seat or as Ward A’s representative.”

Months ago, Honeycutt asked council members to consider keeping the existing commissioners on the planning commission.

“We also wanted to know if there was a way that, although you all (agreed) to the change with the makeup of our commission, if there was a way that we could keep our commission in tact and maybe have those commissioners that are due to leave soon … remain as maybe at-large members in addition to having the new members so that all of the wards are represented,” said Honeycutt.

“We feel very strongly that this commission should mirror council and there should be representation from each ward,” Ward E Council J.J. “Jamie” Davis said during a March 8 meeting. “So, our recommendation is that it mirror council with a representative from each ward and two at-large members as well.”

Davis chairs the council’s finance and ordinance committee.

The council began discussion months ago to change the makeup of the commission, increasing ward representation and staggering member’s terms. The unanimous action followed a public hearing on the ordinance change, which drew no speakers.