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After debate, Westerly council keeps appointments subcommittee and asks for improved candidate training and process
Summary
Council rejected a proposal to abolish the appointments subcommittee after several councilors defended its value for interviewing and vetting volunteer candidates, voting to keep the subcommittee and requesting improved guidelines and training for board and committee applicants.
A proposal to eliminate the council’s appointments subcommittee was defeated during the Oct. 6 meeting after multiple councilors said the subcommittee provides valuable face-to-face interviews and vetting of candidates for town boards and commissions.
Councilor Niemeyer and others described the subcommittee as having professionalized and improved recruitment and interviews. Several councilors said training and clearer applicant guidance — including resume tabs and ethics training — would strengthen the process. Councilor Healy suggested reviving earlier training initiatives and adding resume prompts to the application process to ease the burden on volunteers. The council voted to keep the appointments subcommittee in place rather than abolish it.
Separately, the council discussed permit and agenda timing for the appointments committee and allowed for continuances where needed to deliver documents to all council members in compliance with Open Meetings Act timing.
Council asked the clerk and manager to provide a memo and the clerk’s recommended procedures for future applicant review and to work with the appointments committee on a training plan for volunteers.
