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Board signals support for youth advisory seat and directs staff to explore second vice chair role
Summary
Thurston County Board of Health members expressed support for creating a youth advisory seat and voted to direct staff to explore amending bylaws to add a second vice chair as a mentorship pathway for board leadership.
Thurston County Board of Health members on May 13 discussed creating a youth advisory representative on the board and unanimously directed staff to explore adding a second vice chair position to the bylaws to expand leadership and mentoring opportunities.
A board member described a prospective youth candidate who had provided public comment to the Planning Commission on youth vaping and said that a youth voice could bring lived experience to topics such as tobacco and vaping, mental health and other issues affecting young people. Members cited models in nearby jurisdictions that appoint youth representatives to advisory roles and suggested the board could create a nonvoting, advisory youth seat so as not to change the board’s current voting composition.
Regarding board leadership, a motion was made and seconded to direct staff to explore amending the bylaws to add a second vice chair position for mentorship and succession planning. The motion passed on a voice vote; staff will research bylaws language and return with recommended amendments.
Board members also agreed staff should draft procedures for a youth application and vetting process and present a proposed bylaw amendment or policy for future board consideration.
