Borough mayor asks riverfront commissioners to weigh in on new survey to reshape boards and commissions

Borough Mayor Grier Hopkins told the Chena Riverfront Commission on Jan. 28 that his office is surveying nearly every borough board and commission to identify what each body wants to do and where code changes might help them operate more effectively. "I am going to each board and commission that we have… and asking them to fill it out in the coming weeks to let us know, as an administration, what each of you would like to be able to do," Hopkins said.

Hopkins said the administration may recommend adjustments that include repurposing some commissions, changing how often they meet and allowing different meeting formats. He suggested moving some meetings into a remodeled Chismar Room that would support roundtable discussion instead of a dais to encourage more conversation.

Commissioners asked for copies of the survey; Hopkins said it had been emailed and requested responses within about a month. He added that any proposed code changes would return to the borough assembly for consideration and that staff would coordinate to ensure suggested activities are within the commissions’ legal powers.

The mayor’s visit followed the commission’s decision to reorder its agenda to hear Hopkins’ remarks early in the meeting. Commissioners generally welcomed the opportunity to provide feedback and discussed training topics and constraints posed by the state Open Meetings Act. The commission did not take formal action on Hopkins’ proposal; the mayor said the administration would compile responses and bring potential code changes to the assembly in the coming months.