Appointments committee flags multiple vacancies, plans to stagger economic development terms

The Committee on Appointments met Dec. 2 and heard from staff about the city’s current boards-and-commissions vacancy list. Miss Bosker told commissioners there were no immediate appointments but noted upcoming openings after year‑end, including four vacancies on MobileGR, multiple openings on the Planning Commission and Community Relations, and four openings on the Urban Agriculture advisory group.

Bosker said the city has been working to fill gaps and will bring an end‑of‑year appointment list to the commission at the next meeting. She also described a plan, discussed at a recent work session and coordinated with staff member Patrick, to stagger term end dates for members of economic development boards so that some reappointments made at the next meeting will expire June 30 rather than Dec. 31 — an adjustment that will create 4½‑year appointments for the interim period to avoid large simultaneous turnover.

Commissioners asked for ward representation details for MobileGR and whether liaisons and selection processes for Community Relations and other bodies are actively reviewing candidates over the holidays. Bosker said MobileGR’s bylaws provide guidelines for organizational representation but membership is not strictly ward‑defined; she reported the current MobileGR makeup included two Ward 1 members, two Ward 2 members, one Ward 3 member and three outside‑city members, and that two outside‑city members intend to step down — an opportunity to add more city residents.

The committee did not take formal appointment action; Bosker said staff will return with the end‑of‑year appointment list at the next meeting.