In a surprise move at Monday’s Milford City Council meeting, Mayor Todd Culotta did not reappoint Planning Commissioner Shelby DiCostanzo to her seat along with other commission appointments voted on by council that evening. DiCostanzo’s term expires in August 2026.
Culotta reappointed Charles Hammond and Ian Wright to the Planning Commission. Ronald Rizzo was reappointed to the Board of Adjustments while Holly Heverly and Jason Peel were reappointed to the Tree Preservation and Advisory Board. Rony Baltazar-Lopez, Darron Johnson Wilson and Meredith Schmidt were reappointed to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. All those reappointed had terms that would have expired in August 2026. All nominations were approved unanimously by council.
“Mayor, there seems to be someone we missed when making reappointments,” Councilwoman Nadia Zychal stated when Culotta moved on to the next agenda item. “Shelby DiCostanzo?”
Culotta told council there was someone else he wanted to nominate at a future date. Councilwoman Katrina Wilson asked if DiCostanzo had decided not to remain on the commission.
“It is my job to nominate and no, there is somebody that just applied,” Culotta said. “I would like to present them to council at a future date.”
Wilson again asked if DiCostanzo had chosen not to continue on the commission.
“I don’t know what her long-term plans are, but I would like to add this person to the commission,” Culotta said. “If council doesn’t want to, they can do that, but I want to add somebody new.”
Councilman Jason James interjected, reminding council how city code was written.
“If I could make a point of clarification, just so council knows and I think everyone may know this, I think it is part of our charter change, an enhancement of the charter, that the mayor does have the right and responsibility to appoint commissioners,” James said. “Council can deny or accept the appointment. That is council’s power, but it is the mayor’s power to appoint the nominee.”
DiCostanzo was shocked when she learned she had not been reappointed. According to DiCostanzo, Culotta had not reached out to her or spoken to her about her service on the commission.
“After several years of serving on the Planning Commission, I recently learned that the Mayor intends to recommend someone else rather than reappoint me, despite there being two open seats,” DiCostanzo posted on social media. “I respect that appointing authorities have the discretion to recommend whomever they believe is best. At the same time, I would have appreciated a direct conversation before learning the details through the news. I believe that volunteers who invest years in serving their community deserve that courtesy, even when difficult decisions are made.”
DiCostanzo stated that she had not been told her service on the commission had been anything less than stellar. She was grateful for the time she had served and hoped that the mayor would reconsider.
“Serving on the Planning Commission has been an honor. I’m proud of the work we’ve done together and grateful to my fellow commissioners, staff, and the many residents who have participated in the planning process. My commitment to Milford and its future doesn’t depend on holding a seat at the table.”
According to Article V: Administration and Appointees §5.12 – City Planning Commission, the Planning Commission, pursuant to state law, shall consist of no less than five and no more than nine members recommended by the mayor and appointed by City Council.
As of now, the Planning Commission, with DiCostanzo included, has seven members. Therefore, Culotta could appoint another member without replacing DiCostanzo. The charter is not clear on council’s role when the mayor does not reappoint a sitting commissioner.
Culotta did not say when he would be presenting the application for the proposed nominee, only that it would be “at a future meeting.”
In an interview after the meeting, Culotta explained that he wanted to make room for new people on commission.
“I want to make room on the commission for people who are interested in being on the commission that I think would be good for the city of Milford,” Culotta said. “I’m not going to be mayor of a city and then have people on boards that that go against what I would like to see the direction the city goes in, and that’s economic growth, that’s affordable housing, that’s jobs for people to help the city grow and live a better life.”
When told that there was an option to keep DiCostanzo on planning as the city code allows for up to nine members, Culotta stated that he was not aware of that provision.
“If Shelby wants to stay and we have the room, then I’m okay with that,” Culotta said. “But I do know there’s a lot of people I want to put on there, and if I have to make room, I’m going to make room.”
Culotta stated that if council was willing to add another seat on the planning commission, he would be willing to reappoint DiCostanzo.
