Agenda - 05-14-2013 - 4 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

M fill those vacancies as quickly as possible. He referenced his experience of waiting a year to be placed on the Carrboro Economic Development Commission while knowing there were four vacancies. He said it wasn't a priority for the board and it turns citizens off who are interested. He said that it leads to boards that are more insular and clubby. He said he would like to encourage boards to bring forward as many applicants as possible. Chair Jacobs said he believed that if there are vacancies and there are applicants, they should be filled. He said that the better way to do it is to put boards on notice that if positions are not filled, an explanation should be given and, if needed, the Board of County Commissioners will fill them. He said this also gives the Clerk a chance to make sure applicants still reside in the county. Clerk to the Board Donna S. Baker said that many times applicants apply and then some boards take time to go through the due diligence process to make sure the person can attend the meetings and has the necessary availability. She said that many persons apply for a vacancy and then sit out there for a year. Once they are approached, they may not have availability. Often when contacted, people have an obstacle preventing them from filling the position. She said there is an effort to contact applicants on a regular basis to update their status. Chair Jacobs said that it should be communicated to the board chairs, that it is important to move these candidates forward and fill vacancies. If there is a process involved, it should be communicated. If a candidate is not moved forward and a reason can't be given, the Board will step in. He said there should be parameters set, such as operating in a timely manner. He said that he knows there is not time to change policy tonight, but he wanted the issues to be raised, such as how to know candidates better. He referenced his experience in applying to serve with OWASA, when he was interviewed by then Commissioners, Moses Carey and Verla Insko. Commissioner Gordon said issues that need to be addressed should be flagged. She raised the question about elected officials serving on other boards. She quoted a stipulation from the old policies that stated "Elected officials from other jurisdictions shall not be appointed to county boards and commissions, unless specifically representing their boards in an elected capacity." She said that if it was desired that someone be on a board, a position could be created. She said that there are boards and commissions they don't take recommendations from. She said that historically the reason recommendations are taken from boards and commissions is because there was a problem of not knowing enough about the applicants on the long list of boards and commissions. The thought was to have the boards vet and recommend their own people, but those recommendations don't have to be accepted. She said the decision is, do they or do they not want recommendations from advisory boards. Her preference is to take recommendations. Commissioner McKee said that it is important that citizens are engaged and encouraged to apply to boards, even solicited to apply if it is believed that they would be good on a board. He said that what they need to be careful of, individually or collectively, is appointing people to boards to align ideology of a board or a member of a board. Commissioner Pelissier said that she believes advisory boards should be encouraged to vet people, because the Board of County Commissioners does not have the time. She said there are so many boards and that the advisory boards do a good job overall. She does not want to ask boards to say that they do not like applicants, as this will come in a letter and would be public record. Commissioner Rich asked how OWASA members were chosen. Commissioner Pelissier said that some people interview on their own. Bit that nothing stops them from calling applicants on the list. She said that calls have been made to boards, prospective members and people who might know the applicant. Commissioner Rich asked if Commissioner Pelissier had been interviewed and Commissioner Pelissier said no. She said she received a questionnaire.