Westminster council weighs flexibility as term limits could force up to 31 board departures

Catherine Schroeder, deputy city clerk, told the Westminster City Council study session on May 5 that the city currently has nine boards and commissions covering 70 appointments and that term limits adopted in 2017 will begin to remove long‑serving members this year.

"We have 9 boards or commissions currently made up of 70 positions. As of today, there are all but 1 of those positions filled. The only non filled position is an alternate position on the human services board," Schroeder said during the presentation.

Schroeder said the term‑limit language adopted in 2017 (four two‑year terms, implemented beginning January 2018) means the city will begin losing members in large numbers: 11 members reach the limit by the end of 2025 and an additional 20 by the end of 2026, a total of up to 31 potential vacancies if the code is enforced as written.

The city clerk’s office outlined three options for council to consider: enforce the term limits as written; keep the limits but add code language that allows flexibility (for example, allowing a member to continue if there are no qualified applicants); or eliminate term limits entirely. Schroeder said applications are accepted year‑round and noted a recent surge of roughly a dozen applications, though many applicants do not complete the process.

Council discussion repeatedly returned to the risk of losing accumulated expertise. "I think 90% of the board will be gone by the end of next year, and that would be a huge disruption of the knowledge base," Councilor Rosati said, urging caution about a strict enforcement that would immediately remove many long‑tenured members.

Several councilors said they preferred option 2—maintain term limits but add flexibility and clarity in code—so the city would not be left unable to staff boards where qualified applicants are not available. "I like option 2," Councilor DeMott said, adding that flexibility would help preserve institutional knowledge while still creating opportunities for new volunteers.

Councilors also discussed practical steps to improve recruitment and vetting: restoring interviews of applicants, increasing outreach, and considering nonvoting advisory roles so outgoing members can transfer knowledge without voting authority. Several councilors suggested providing applicants and current members clearer timelines and a written packet of expectations.

As a next step, staff said the clerk’s office will draft proposed language and asked for a small council working group to help refine options. The clerk said she will lead the effort with volunteers from council: Councilor Rosati, Councilor Ireland and Mayor Portim were named to work with staff on proposed code language and return a recommendation to the full council.

The council did not vote on ordinance text or change the code at the meeting; the direction given was to develop draft language and return it for council consideration.

Clarifying details from the clerk’s presentation: the city has nine boards or commissions and 70 total positions; one vacancy (alternate position on the human services board) was reported; the term limit structure is four two‑year terms established in 2017 and implemented in January 2018; 11 members hit limits at end of 2025 and a further 20 at end of 2026 (up to 31 total); the clerk noted a recent surge of about 12 applications, with roughly half of applicants completing the process.