Keene council pauses enforcement of membership ban, tables policy rewrite and approves EDC appointments

Keene City Council on Jan. 15 voted to hold enforcement of a July appointment policy that currently prevents sitting council members from serving on boards and commissions, and directed staff and the city attorney to return with clearer language. The council agreed to suspend enforcement for 30 days while members consider options including a limit of one council member per board.

The review grew out of concerns raised after the July adoption of the policy and the practical effect on filling volunteer seats. City staff and the attorney said the policy's wording was broad and that the city’s charter and common practice in other cities allow elected officials on some boards (for example, economic-development corporations), though some councilmembers worried about optics and potential conflicts.

"Our ordinance is noncompliant with our charter and state law," one council member said during debate; the city attorney advised the policy was "subject to interpretation" and suggested bylaw changes for specific boards instead of a blanket prohibition. Council members who favored allowing limited board service cited continuity and expertise; opponents cited the need to avoid any appearance of impropriety.

While the membership-policy discussion was ongoing, council approved several EDC appointments recommended by the type B and type A boards: Alma Davila and Philip Jackson were named to two-year Type B terms (ending March 2027) and Efren Castellanos was appointed to the Type A board for a three-year term ending March 2028. Council noted some appointments will be revisited if the membership policy is revised.

Council instructed staff and legal counsel to draft options for clearer policy language and to report back at the next meeting. In the meantime the policy enforcement will be held for thirty days so current appointees are not forced to resign immediately.