Evansville commission keeps officers, delays committee chair assignments

The Evansville City Commission voted on March 27 to retain its current officers for the 2025 term: Jeremy Taylor as chair, Aaron Calvert as vice chair and Donovan Phipps as recording secretary. The commission moved to keep the slate in place and approved the motion by voice vote.

Commissioners used the meeting to review FY2025 priorities and the commission’s committee structure — neighborhoods, criminal justice, education, employment, health, social factors, youth awareness and conference planning — and discussed whether to assign committee chairs immediately or defer until next month. Several commissioners urged caution about rushing appointments and recommended that small working groups meet first to develop plans before chairs are finalized.

A speaker read language from the commission’s ordinance reminding members that the commission’s responsibilities include developing and coordinating programs that address poverty, violence, drug abuse, racism, health problems, undereducation and unemployment among African American males. The speaker framed committee work as both direct service and policy review under that ordinance language.

Commissioners reviewed committee delegations used in 2024 and noted some openings; conference planning was identified as one committee likely to need a new lead because a prior delegate (Alex Burton) no longer serves on the commission. The group agreed to place committee chair assignments on next month’s agenda to allow time for nominees or presenters to develop concrete plans. Several commissioners said they would circulate committee descriptions and meet offline to prepare proposals for the next meeting.

At the start of the meeting members also moved and approved the minutes of the Feb. 27 meeting.