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Council reappoints and names volunteers to multiple boards, announces openings for volunteers
Summary
Portsmouth City Council approved reappointments and new appointments to downtown design, crime & gun violence task force, wetlands board, library board, museums and parks and recreation commissions. The appointments were adopted by voice vote 7-0; councilmembers also publicized a range of volunteer openings.
Portsmouth City Council voted to reappoint and appoint members to several city boards and commissions and publicized current openings for volunteers.
Why it matters: Boards and commissions advise city government on planning, cultural, safety and service delivery issues. Membership can shape priorities for design, public safety, parks and senior services.
Councilman Hugel presented the slate of reappointments and new appointments. Reappointments include Nathan Lay and Brandon Jackson to the Downtown Design Committee, and Cecilia Boyd to the Wetlands Board. New appointments announced included Sharon Anderson and a behavioral-health representative Michelle Bradstock to the Community Criminal Justice Board, Heather Harkleroad to the Downtown Design Committee, Connie Gilman to the Library Board, James Overton and Pamela Jones to the Museum and Fine Arts Commission, Lindsay Anderson and Rhonda Russell to the Parks and Recreation Commission (Rhonda Russell as the Planning Department representative), and Megan Balistra to the Wetlands Board. The council also named James Cullen, Jalen Drury and Leticia Sessoms as reappointments to the Crime and Gun Violence Task Force and George Degroat as a new appointee to that task force.
Councilman Hugel also listed volunteer openings: one position on the crime and gun violence task force, five openings on the history commission, one opening on the library board, two openings on the Portsmouth Community Network Broadband Authority (seeking expertise in broadband infrastructure and digital-access issues), three openings on the Portsmouth Supplemental Retirement Board, one opening on the Southeastern Alcohol Safety Action Program and one on Southeastern Senior Services of Virginia. He noted a forthcoming vacancy for the city’s Tidewater Community College board representative in June.
Vote and next steps: The council moved and seconded the appointments; the clerk recorded the appointments as adopted by a 7-0 vote. The council encouraged interested residents to submit applications through the city clerk’s office and the city website.
Ending: The council’s action fills multiple advisory roles and signals continued outreach for qualified volunteers to support city boards and commissions.
