A new policy of appointing incumbent board members who apply for another term on a county board or committee without re-interviewing if there are no other applicants, was followed Tuesday at the Barry County Commission’s committee of the whole meeting.
Commissioners Howard “Hoot” Gibson and Vivian Conner said they had concerns. Commissioner and Chair Ben Geiger said if any commissioner has questions about any applicant, he would schedule an interview, conceding the new policy would require some communication.
When Gibson said without interviews, they wouldn’t know if the applicant was still effective, Commissioner Heather Wing pointed out that a county commissioner sits on all boards and would know about it.
Commissioner Vivian Conner argued incumbents, “still need to come in,” adding if they found problems, they could “interview until they found a good fit.” Commissioner Dan Parker said he didn’t think few other commissioners felt that way. No other commissioners commented on the issue.
The committee recommended the full board:
* re-appoint Cynthia Vujea to the Central Dispatch Administrative Board for a four year term. Former Commissioner Joyce Snow withdrew her application because of a conflict in meeting times with another board she has agreed to serve. Douglas Abraham also applied. Interviews were scheduled because there were other applicants, the rest were by appointment.
* re-appoint Robert Vanderboegh to the Building Authority Board for a three year term;
* re-appoint Sarah Nelson, general public and Duane Weeks, Village of Middleville, to the Solid Waste Oversight Committee for three year terms.
* re-appoint Mike Timmons to the Veterans Affairs Committee to a four year term, and;
* re-appoint Christine Hiar, service area; David Tripp, criminal defense attorney; Amy Graham, Workforce Development Board and Frank Williams, citizen at large, to the Community Corrections Authority Board for three year terms.
* approve Walker, Fluke and Sheldon to complete the 2017 Barry County Road Commission annual audit for $9,100. The road commission’s agreement with the firm conducting its audit must be confirmed by the county commission every year.
