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City Attorney previews ordinance to standardize boards and commissions; background checks, term limits recommended
Summary
City Attorney Dan Atchison presented proposed code changes to standardize membership rules for Salem boards and commissions: minimum age 18, residency/work requirement, two-term limits, a city-paid criminal background check (about $15), and a preference for geographic and demographic diversity; councilors largely supported the inclusivity goals and asked clarifying questions about felony and misdemeanor criteria.
City Attorney Dan Atchison presented an informational briefing on a forthcoming ordinance that would standardize membership requirements and governance practices for the city's boards, commissions and committees.
Atchison said recommendations from a 2024 governance assessment and subsequent meetings with advisory groups support a common set of requirements: members must be at least 18, live or work in Salem, generally be limited to service on two governance groups, and be limited to two terms for most bodies; the city would cover the roughly $15 cost of a criminal-background check for applicants. "Those criteria were originally drafted by city staff, the Salem Police Department and folks in our community services department," Atchison said, noting that some boards may keep board-specific exceptions.
Councilors asked about the background-check criteria. Atchison and councilors clarified that, as presented, an applicant with any felony conviction would be disqualified, and misdemeanor convictions within the last three years would also be disqualifying under the adopted criteria; applicants can seek review by the appointments committee if they dispute findings.
Why it matters: The changes aim to broaden the applicant pool and reduce overly prescriptive seat requirements that have made vacancies hard to fill. Councilors praised efforts to expand geographic and lived-experience diversity on advisory bodies and to create clearer application and onboarding processes.
Next steps: Staff will bring a first-reading ordinance to council on July 27 to implement the proposed code amendments and seek direction on any final changes.
