About two years ago, Wendell’s then-mayor, Tim Hinnant, pushed forward with an effort to force the resignation of Steven Sanderson from the town’s Planning Board. He was concerned that Sanderson had a conflict of interest because he was bringing action before the board on which he sat.

At that time, we editorialized that Hinnant was overstepping his bounds in seeking the resignation of a sitting advisory board member.

In that same light, we believe the town’s current mayor, Harold Broadwell, is wrong to press for the resignations of people currently sitting on boards who have filed legal action against the town.

In all three cases, the legal action — involving the expansion of the Pepper Pointe subdivision — was filed before the people in question were appointed to the boards on which they now serve.

As far as we can tell, none of these three people — Glenn Harris, Charlie Kramer and Jenny Melton — were appointed improperly. They don’t deserve to be booted from their seats.

That said, Broadwell made another point in an e-mail he sent last week that does have merit.

In that e-mail, Broadwell said the town should avoid appointing people to advisory boards who are involved in legal action against the town.

That suggestion makes sense to us. While a diversity of opinion is always welcome, we believe the adversarial role that exists between parties in a lawsuit can make relations strained and the opportunity for elected leaders to receive unfettered advice is lessened.

Appointments to advisory boards are typically fraught with politics — a choice that all too often stifles honest debate and the sharing of perspectives. And though commissioners need to ensure a variety of experience and opinion on the boards which advise them, they can do better than choosing people who sue the town.

Wendell commissioners, like their brethren in other towns, often struggle to find people willing to serve in advisory capacities on local boards and commissions. It’s important work, but commissioners should choose their advisers carefully.

Johnny Whitfield Managing Editor