Board members urged to help fill 14 upcoming vacancies to protect quorum

At the July 28 meeting of the City of St. Louis Workforce Development Board, Executive Director Connie Johnson said staff have identified a wave of upcoming expirations and are asking members to help recruit replacements.

"As you all know, last December, we had 12 members whose terms expired. And then in this December, we'll have another 12 who expired," Johnson said, describing work she asked the director of boards and commissions to begin so the board does not lose quorum. She said staff compiled an Excel roster of expirations and resignations and are contacting members now rather than waiting until November or December.

Board members pressed for clarity about the bylaws requirement that 51% of seats be held by business leaders, and whether ‘executive’ means C-suite or a management-level leader. One board member summarized the impact: "It's because 51% of the members have to be business leaders, and then so many of the quorum vote have to be business leaders as well," noting shortages of business representatives can hinder reaching quorum.

Staff agreed to produce a one-page summary of board responsibilities and the specific titles and sectors the bylaws seek, and to provide a roster with expiration dates and attendance records so members and the mayor's office can review reappointments. The board also discussed using the city's boards-and-commissions office to begin outreach and confirmed that attendance tracking and the existing attendance policy could trigger removals when thresholds are met.