With the exception of Austin "Babe" Monsanto, Gov. Charles W. Turnbull has replaced all the former Coastal Zone Management Commissioners on St. Thomas, including CZM Chairman Albert Paiewonsky who resigned in February.
Paiewonsky, who served more than 15 years as head of the St. Thomas committee as well as the Virgin Islands commission, said he had agreed to continue to serve until his replacement was nominated and confirmed.
Turnbull nominated Robert Mathes, former Licensing and Consumer Affairs commissioner, to replace Paiewonsky as chair of the commission.
Monsanto has been reappointed, which is good, according to Paiewonsky.
"'Babe' and I started together," Paiewonsky said. "He knows all the previous permits. It's good to have at least one person who has been on the commission for awhile."
Anthon Winston Adams was nominated to succeed William Newbold, whose term expired in 1995. Adams, a former public school superintendent, is project manager for the construction at Lockhart Elementary School that is being done by Heery International Inc.
Former St. Thomas Deputy Administrator Sarah M. "Peggy" Simmonds has been nominated to fill one of the vacant positions on the committee. Ida M. White, a retired educator, was nominated to fill the other vacancy.
Paiewonsky said he had scheduled a two-day seminar for late April, with the blessing of the administration, to train the new commission members. However, Paiewonsky said he now plans to reschedule it after the commissioners have been confirmed.
It is important for the new members to understand the CZM's goals, he said, and those should guide every decision.
What's most important? To maintain and preserve the environment, Paiewonsky said.
"There's always a cost for development," he said, but CZM's job is to see to it that "growth and development (are) balanced with the environment."
