by Nicole Bradford
A lengthy discussion on how residents are selected for city advisory boards brought up issues of privacy and open meeting requirements at Monday’s City Council meeting.
“Instead of having a three-person committee, maybe have applicants be able to interview and let all the council members have input instead of going through the applications in the back office, coming out and giving opinions based on paper,” Councilman Rushi Patel said. “I would certainly never hire anyone for a business that way.”
However, to be interviewed by the majority of council members present, state law requires that applicants for advisory boards be interviewed in open meetings- a prospect that could deter applicants.
Currently, applicants for the city’s many advisory boards are reviewed and recommended by a mayor-appointed advisory committee. City Council then votes in open session to approve the list of nominees.
The current appointment procedure was developed the way it has, Mayor Kevin Cole said, “to eliminate the opportunity for that public discussion and potential embarrassment in the public.”
Council member Mona Chavarria suggested that the interviews be conducted by the smaller selection committee and that members of that committee be rotated.
As a result of Monday’s discussion, council members agreed to consider changes on a future agenda, including clarifying selection subcommittees to include a rotating at-large member and applicant interviews with subcommittees.
The topic of advisory boards arose on April 28 when the council approved appointees for the city parks and library boards. Patel and Councilman Chad Thumann voted against the measure, citing a lack of procedural transparency.
