City clarifies advisory-board terms, application process; mayor suggests adding sixth Parks board seat

Taneytown city staff and the mayor addressed questions Wednesday about a recently passed resolution that clarifies terms, staggering and appointment procedures for advisory boards.

The mayor told the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board that the resolution standardizes terms so seats expire July 31 and the city will aim to make appointments in August. The measure also establishes a 120-day holdover during which current members may remain if a new appointment is not finalized. The mayor said the administration will ask incumbents who wish to continue to submit the formal boards-and-commissions application (available online and as printed copies at city hall) so their names are in the appointment pool.

On application timing, the mayor said residents should submit applications well before the July 31 expiration; doing so puts a candidate “in the hat” for consideration. He said the application is short — name, contact, years living in Taneytown and relevant service or degrees — and a resume is not required. The mayor emphasized the process is intended as housekeeping and not an effort to remove members: “Don’t take this as we’re trying to kick anybody off the board,” he said.

The mayor also announced the city intends to limit residents to service on one advisory board at a time (ex officio council members are exempt). In light of strong public interest in Parks, Planning and Zoning, and the Election Board, he suggested the council consider adding a sixth member to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board to increase access. The change would require a code amendment and follow standard notice and council action.

Board members raised questions about timing for the chair election and existing bylaws that call for selecting officers in July; staff said they will propose shifting officer elections to align with the new August appointment cadence.

Actions on appointments will remain with council; the mayor said department heads will provide recommendations to help inform reappointments.

Ending: Staff said they will email the application to members and make printed copies available at the front office; members were encouraged to apply if they wish to continue serving.