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Savannah council reviews dozens of board and commission appointments, leaves some openings for re-advertising
Summary
At its March 13 workshop the Savannah City Council considered nominations and reappointments for roughly 35 boards and commissions, confirmed multiple appointees and asked staff to re-advertise or delay selections for several bodies needing more city-resident applicants.
Savannah City Council members on March 13 reviewed vacancies and nominations for roughly 35 city boards, commissions and authorities, confirming numerous reappointments and new nominees while asking staff to re-advertise several positions that lacked city-resident applicants.
Council said it would re-advertise seats on bodies including the Chatham Savannah Authority for the Homeless and the Economic Opportunity Authority where preference for city or county residents was a factor in selection. Several reappointments — including Deborah Glenn and Hunter Chadwick on select commissions — were confirmed verbally during the workshop.
The council asked the clerk’s office to confirm residency and correct application information where needed; members noted at least one applicant’s form listed a county address that should read as a city address. Council members also requested attendance records and annual reports from commission chairs when considering future reappointments, to avoid reappointing nominees who are not participating. The clerk’s office said the city requires both attendance records and annual reports from appointed bodies.
Councilors emphasized recruiting more applicants from underrepresented districts and asked staff to return later with revised lists after additional outreach. Several panels — the Hospital Authority, Savannah Development and Renewal Authority, and others with multiple vacancies — were explicitly held for additional outreach and later consideration.
The session included discussion of eligibility rules (length of terms and residency requirements) and multiple district-specific nominations. Councilors also asked staff to provide clearer written descriptions of each board’s duties on the clerk’s website; the clerk confirmed information and orientation materials are already posted and will be referenced in future appointment packets.
Council concluded the appointments section by urging more community recruitment and stronger orientation materials for newly appointed members so appointees understand their duties.
Ending: Council moved on to three substantive briefings (public art master plan, water resources and stormwater engagement) after completing the appointments review. No formal roll-call votes for each appointment were recorded in the workshop transcript; staff indicated several nominations would be re-advertised and brought back for formal action if needed.
