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Franklin County reinstates Welcoming Advisory Council, appoints 15 members
Summary
The board approved appointments to reestablish the Franklin County Welcoming (New American) Advisory Council, with supporters saying the council will connect immigrant communities to county services and represent diverse geographic and cultural perspectives.
The Franklin County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution to appoint 15 members to a reestablished Franklin County Welcoming Advisory Council (also described in the record as the New American Advisory Council). Michael Roman, assistant director of community appointments, said the nominees were vetted with council leadership and will serve two-year terms ending March 31, 2028.
Michael Roman said the nominations aim to build a council that reflects the communities it serves and provide geographic and cultural representation across Franklin County. He introduced two council representatives who addressed the board.
Guadalupe Velasquez said, "We're very excited about formally reinstating our advisory council," and described the group's recent community forums and outreach. Nadia Kosvin told the board that "as immigration enforcement intensifies across the country, local leadership has never been more critical," and cited figures discussed by advocates about recent arrests and detentions as context for the council's work.
Roman said the council will intersect with the county’s Rise Together blueprint and help maintain relationships between county agencies and communities; the board adopted Resolution 15326 to appoint the slate as presented.
The resolution assigns implementation tasks to the community appointments office; terms were specified in the record as expiring March 31, 2028. The meeting included brief remarks in support of the council but no public opposition was recorded.
