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Stow City Urban Forestry Commission to add nonvoting student ambassadors; selection process not set
Summary
At its June 9 meeting, the Stow City Urban Forestry Commission discussed adding student ambassadors (nonvoting), identified one candidate, and debated roles such as social-media outreach and time commitments. Commissioners said the legal advice limits voting rights and the selection process will be developed.
The Stow City Urban Forestry Commission discussed adding nonvoting student ambassadors to the commission at its June 9 meeting, identifying at least one candidate and leaving selection details to be developed.
Commission members raised the idea of giving students specific outreach roles. “I think maybe we should get them involved with social media somehow,” one commission member said, urging the group to match responsibilities to students’ interests and skills.
Commissioners said the city’s legal guidance bars students from exercising voting power. “No voting power. Basically, it’s just… a student position, but it’s not like an official board member,” a commission member said during the meeting. Members agreed the youth could still take part in discussion and influence work by advising the commission.
The commission named one candidate, Alex McMahon, described in the meeting as a high school student who will be a senior next year. Members said they expect to recruit another student through a local Kent program and noted a similar nonvoting youth role already exists on the Stow Arts Commission.
Conversation at the meeting focused on keeping the role flexible while clarifying expectations. Commissioners asked about time commitments and meeting frequency after McMahon raised those questions in email exchanges. Members said they want to hear from the students directly to learn what they hope to contribute and to shape duties accordingly.
No formal appointment process was set at the meeting. Commissioners agreed to “see how it goes” as they begin adding youth participants and to allow the commission to choose titles such as “student ambassador” or another designation for outreach purposes. The meeting record shows no vote or formal adoption of a recruitment policy; members plan to discuss implementation further at future meetings.
Less critical details: members noted other jurisdictions use similar nonvoting youth roles and that staff will coordinate outreach and recruitment when the commission defines the process.
The commission’s next regular meeting is scheduled for July 14 at 3:30 p.m.; commissioners said they will continue planning the student role before formally appointing ambassadors.
