Danville City Commission has approved a new appointment to one of its seats on the local Planning and Zoning board — a woman Mayor Mike Perros said will bring “balance” to what has been a male-dominated board.

Perros recommended Wendy Rochester, a certified public accountant who has lived in Danville for 17 years, to be appointed in place of Clayton Denny, whose term on the P&Z board expired at the end of July.

Commissioner Rick Serres asked Perros about his recommendation during last week’s city commission meeting. Serres wondered whether Denny did not wish to continue on the P&Z board or if Rochester was a “better choice.”

“There is one female on Planning and Zoning. I think it’s appropriate to kind of balance that out a little bit more with somebody who has the same kind of care for the community like Clayton does and is also looking for ways to advance it like Clayton is,” Perros responded. “And Clayton has kept the door open so anything else that we have that we would like him to serve on, he will.”

Perros wrote in his recommendation letter that Rochester “will be an asset to this commission and will serve the city well in this capacity.”

Rochester currently works as a regional vice president for Arbonne International, according to Perros’ recommendation.

Commissioner Denise Terry motioned to approve the appointment of Rochester and Commissioner Kevin Caudill seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Rochester has a four-year term on P&Z that will expire on Oct. 1, 2021.

Another seat on P&Z, this one appointed by the Boyle County Fiscal Court, was also recently vacated, as Clyde Mullins resigned earlier this month. Mullins, who was appointed in March this year, was unable to continue serving due to a change in his employment requirements, according to a letter submitted to P&Z.