New Castle County subcommittee reviews slate of board nominees; votes set for next week

The New Castle County Boards and Commissions Subcommittee met Sept. 16 to hear introductions from nominees for a range of county advisory bodies and to discuss procedural questions about sponsorship of appointment resolutions and the county’s informal practice on holding multiple board seats. No formal votes on the nominations were taken; the council will consider all appointments at its regular meeting next Tuesday.

Many of the nominees spoke briefly about their backgrounds and reasons for wanting to serve. Bishop George Gibson, nominated to the New Castle County Housing Advisory Board, told the panel he has 45 years of pastoral experience and directs several community programs, including the Interdenominational Ministers Action Council of Delaware (IMAC), LEAP (Labor Education and Empowerment) and a pathway-to-apprenticeship program. “I have a lot of hats,” he said, describing concerns about housing stability for “black and brown people” he serves and mentioning difficulties residents face maintaining mortgages and accessing homeownership.

Why it matters: The subcommittee’s recommendations shape the county’s advisory bodies on housing, historic preservation, planning and design review—panels that advise officials on…