By: Elizabeth McCall
Albuquerque city councilors approved a bill Monday night that could make it easier to fill longstanding vacancies on the city’s boards and commissions and determine which panels need to stay or go.
The bill, sponsored by Council President Brook Bassan, would create a task force that reviews all boards, committees and commissions because more than 20 are inactive. Bassan told City Desk ABQ that the proposal came at the request of the City Clerk’s Office.
“The clerk was wondering if we could have a board established to evaluate which boards and commissions are operating, which ones aren’t, which ones need to change, if we need to eliminate some…but at the same time, make sure that we keep things operating right,” Bassan said.
During a Finance and Government Operations Committee meeting on Feb. 10, a city clerk spokesperson told city councilors that the city has around 82 boards and commissions but only 58 are active with around 400 members and a nearly 15% vacancy rate.
To fill one vacant position, city councilors are required to recommend two qualified applicants. The bill relaxes that requirement if only one person applies.
The legislation originally stated that if there is only one applicant who applies within three months of the mayor notifying the council of a vacant position, a city councilor can recommend the appointee to the mayor.
Councilors voted to change the three month period to 45 days, but on Monday night, Bassan moved to change it again to say 60 days.
“This is, to me, a compromise,” Bassan said during Monday’s meeting. “Had I been asked at committee, I would have intended to say to all of you that we have to allow constituents at least a decent amount of time to even apply for these committees. My concern is finding the balance of letting it be too long versus too short and where do we strike that balance.”
The council approved the change before unanimously approving the legislation.
Nonprofit journalism like this depends on readers like you. This story is supported by City Desk ABQ, a nonprofit newsroom project of Citizen Media Group supporting news and politics coverage that inspires readers to participate in local democracy. Become a supporter to keep City Desk free and support nonprofit, independent journalists covering politics and policy f0r New Mexico newsrooms.