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Legislature committee discusses advisory-board vacancies, online applications and outreach
Summary
The Government Operations Committee reviewed the county’s advisory-board appointment process and vacancy list, discussed improving online application and recruitment, and asked communications staff to centralize vacancy information and consider a web page or promotions to drive applicants.
Committee members reviewed a packet that included the county policy on advisory boards, a quarterly-updated vacancy list and a link inventory of board pages. The clerk’s office said it mails reappointment notices in mid-October and treats incomplete applications as vacancies effective Dec. 31.
Legislators and staff discussed ways to increase public awareness and make applications easier to complete online. Monica (county communications) said the recently relaunched county website could host a single page listing all advisory-board openings and link to each board’s application materials; Monica also confirmed press releases about openings have generated additional applications.
Members suggested practical changes: updating the paper application to provide clearer prompts (so applicants do not upload “their entire life history”), allowing applicants to attach a short resume, and providing a packet to new appointees that includes bylaws, the county appointment policy and the code of ethics. Multiple legislators urged a clearer statement in the appointment policy that advises how advisory boards connect to legislative committees and recommended an annual reporting expectation for boards that have the capacity to produce a written summary.
Committee members also discussed training and onboarding for new board chairs and the idea of a “10 ways to be a citizen” outreach product to encourage volunteerism. Communications staff said they will examine a web-hosted application form and coordinate with ITS on online form functionality and accessibility. Jordan provided an updated vacancy list to the committee during the meeting.
Ending: Committee members asked clerk’s staff and communications to prepare options for a more centralized online application and an onboarding packet to present at a future meeting.
