Committee approves slate of board and commission appointments

The Richmond City Council Education and Human Services Committee voted to approve a block of appointments and reappointments to several city advisory boards and commissions, the committee chair announced during its meeting.

The appointments and reappointments were adopted in a single motion and vote after staff presented current and projected vacancies and candidate applications. Committee members approved the slate by voice vote: Member Pamela Jones voted “aye,” Vice Chair Bridal voted “aye,” and Chair Lynch voted “aye.”

Pamela Nichols, council management analyst, presented the vacancies and candidate names to the committee. The slate included a recommended appointment of Lisa Michley to the Advisory Board of Recreation and Parks for the Fifth District; Ida Mitchell for the Aging and Disabilities Advisory Board; Mary Montague for the Capital Area Partnership Uplifting People (CAPUP) vacancy; the reappointment of Whitney Brown to the Human Rights Commission and initial applications from Brianna Beasley and Emily Wufteitke for other Human Rights Commission openings; the reappointment of Steven Williams to Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens; the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority’s recommendation of Dennis Cohen Jr.; and the Department of Social Services’ support for Mac Burkemuller for its vacancy.

Nichols noted several boards with vacancies but no applications, including the ASAP Community Policy and Management Team, Future Workforce Commission, and the Maggie L. Walker Initiative Citizens Advisory Board. Committee members moved to approve the staff recommendations as presented and approved the motion unanimously by the three recorded votes.

The committee did not provide separate recorded tallies for each named appointment; the motion approved the group of recommendations as a block.

The committee then moved on to other business and public comment.