Commission approves first reading to allow limited waivers for advisory-board qualifications

The City Commission voted on the first reading of an ordinance that would allow limited waiver authority for advisory-board qualifications, to be used only when the city cannot find qualified candidates who meet existing requirements. Assistant City Attorney Andrew Gorchick described the change as a targeted, case-by-case tool: the commission could waive specific prerequisites such as residency, degree or certification requirements, prohibitions on holding multiple board seats, and two-term limits "where it is in the best public interest and where the city cannot find another qualified person," he said. Any waiver would return to the commission as a resolution with findings and would require a public vote. Commissioners framed the proposal as a practical response to repeated vacancies on boards that require specialized expertise. Gorchick said no Florida statute mandates that municipal advisory-board members be city residents; Boynton Beach historically has preferred residents but only a small number of boards (the arts advisory board) includes a formal residency quota. Commissioner Turkin asked for assurance that the city would preserve subject-matter expertise where warranted; the assistant city attorney and commissioners agreed the waiver mechanism was intended to be narrowly applied and not to replace required technical qualifications when the board’s function depends on that expertise. The commission approved Ordinance No. 25-006 on first reading by roll call vote. The ordinance will return for second reading and final adoption in a future meeting. The ordinance directs staff to implement the process by which candidates or the commission may request a waiver and requires a written resolution and findings before a waiver is granted.