Spadeep Najahu, coordinator for the Dallas Veterans Affairs Commission, told commissioners the city’s fiscal year began Oct. 1 and that commissioners who have not been renominated are currently in a holdover status of about six months. Najahu said the city is publishing reappointment information on Granicus, the new boards-and-commissions web system, and that five current commissioners have been renominated.

Najahu said the five renominated commissioners are Charles Ayers (District 1), Juan Preciado (District 2), Sergio Ortega (District 7), Ray Smith (District 13) and Matthew Bell (District 14). He told the commission there are six vacancies and urged members to contact their council-member liaisons if they want to be renominated.

The coordinator said holdover status and the new posting system have contributed to confusion about who has active appointments. “They recently had mentioned, among other things, that the fiscal year basically began with October 1 and, with that, any one of commissioners or board members who have not been renominated that they go into a holdover period and status, which I believe they said was about 6 months or so,” Najahu said.

Commissioners noted the holdover and vacancy situation is affecting the commission’s ability to reach quorum; Najahu said the commission needs seven members for quorum. He said three recent resignations — former chair Ronnie Mestas, Dominique Haskett and Fred Walker — contributed to current openings, and that some other vacancies predate those resignations.

Najahu said he will update a letter the commission previously prepared for council and work with the boards-and-commissions office to follow up with council liaisons about filling vacancies. He described the boards-and-commissions manager’s guidance that the central coordination office typically handles outreach to council members, and said he will attempt individual follow-up as needed so the commission does not “fall through the cracks” while conducting work such as the veterans well-being assessment and the annual report.

Commissioner Scott Chase asked whether council members had been notified about outstanding appointments; Najahu said he is responsible for trying to reach new council members and that he will pursue the follow-up. "I'll look to modify it, to update it, Right. And, to reflect our current circumstances," Najahu said about the planned letter to council.

The commission heard no formal motion on appointments at the meeting; Najahu said he will return with follow-up and will forward updated correspondence to commissioners.