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River Bend council adopts ordinance tightening advisory-board appointment rules
Summary
At its Dec. 11 meeting, the River Bend Town Council unanimously adopted an amendment to the town code requiring advisory-board vacancies to be advertised for at least two weeks, requiring applicants to submit applications and attend at least one board meeting before consideration, and barring council members from serving on advisory boards.
River Bend Town Council unanimously adopted an amendment to the town's advisory-board appointment rules at its Dec. 11, 2025, meeting.
Councilman Buddy Sheffield moved to adopt the ordinance amendment, which Mayor Mark Bledsoe and all present council members approved. The ordinance (codified as an amendment to Title III, Chapter 3.05, Section 3.05.070) requires that advisory-board vacancies be advertised for at least two weeks and that applicants submit a formal Advisory Board Application. Before consideration for appointment, applicants must have attended at least one meeting of the advisory board for which they are applying. The Advisory Board is directed to review applications and submit its recommendation to the Town Council via the board's liaison.
The ordinance also specifies resignation and removal procedures: resignations must be reported in writing or by email to the Town Manager; the Council may remove a board member by vote in an open meeting; and a former advisory-board member may only be considered for reappointment after following the same application procedure. The amendment clarifies that council members may not serve on an advisory board and must resign from any such board upon appointment or election to the Council.
Finance Director Mandy Gilbert and Town staff were present for the reading and adoption; the council recorded the motion as carried unanimously by the members present. (The minutes list six councilmembers in attendance; the motion passed with the affirmative vote of all members present.)
Why it matters: The changes formalize application and review procedures for citizen advisory boards and create a clearer record of candidate consideration, which the Council and staff said will standardize appointments and help ensure applicants have prior exposure to the board's work.
Next steps: The ordinance takes effect upon adoption. Council and staff did not schedule further implementing details during the meeting; advisory-board liaisons are responsible for receiving applications and forwarding recommendations to the Council.
