Alna Second Selectman Doug Baston and Planning Board Chair Jeff Spinney have confirmed, on Wednesday Baston asked him to take a leave of absence while Spinney’s applications are resolved, and Spinney agreed to. 

In separate phone interviews, Baston said Spinney had done nothing wrong; Spinney has been recusing himself when the planning board has taken up his proposals. But Baston said, “I think the role of him as chairman of the planning board and him as applicant is continually confused ... and the only clean way I can think of is for him to take a leave from the planning board, and then it’s crystal clear that he’s a litigant and not a decider.”

“It’s just until my items clear the planning board, because there are people who don’t seem to comprehend the concept of recusal,” Spinney said. “So if (a leave) somehow makes it easier on everybody then I’ll gladly do that.”

The board recently set a July 27 reconsideration of its June 29, 2-2 vote that rejected Spinney’s proposed ramp project at the Sheepscot River off Golden Ridge Road. The same night, the board has planned to take up Spinney’s newly proposed upland earthwork at the site.

On Monday, Spinney’s wife Melissa Spinney announced her 45-day leave of absence as first selectman. Her letter stated negativity directed at her and others in the town government has taken a toll on her recovery from a quintuple coronary bypass in March.