Chapter 2.03
BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS

Sections:

2.03.010    Election.

2.03.020    Terms.

2.03.025    Removal.

2.03.030    Limited terms.

2.03.040    Executive’s terms.

2.03.050    Effective date.

2.03.060    Appointment of non-councilmembers to boards, commissions and committees.

2.03.065    Appointment of planning commission members.

2.03.070    Confirmation of appointments.

2.03.075    Review of nominees and executive appointees.

2.03.080    Vacancies on citizen boards, committees and commissions.

2.03.090    Qualifications.

2.03.010 Election.

A. Each year at its annual meeting, the county council shall elect its representatives who shall serve until the next annual meeting to the various boards and commissions on which it must appoint its own members to serve.

B. This annual election for one-year terms shall begin in January, 1981. (Ord. 2001-028 Exh. A; Ord. 95-006 Exh. A; Res. 80-12 §§ 1, 2).

2.03.020 Terms.

A. The term of office for the board of equalization shall be three years pursuant to RCW 84.48.026.

B. All other appointments to boards, committees and commissions of non-councilmembers made by the council shall be for a term no longer than four years, and shall expire on December 31st of the specified year, except for those appointments made to fill an incomplete term in which case it shall be for the balance of that term.

C. Term lengths for those members first appointed to newly created boards, committees and commissions shall be staggered so that the terms of future members do not expire on the same date. (Ord. 2001-028 Exh. A; Ord. 95-006 Exh. A; Ord. 93-003 Attachment E (part); Res. 83-19 (part); Res. 80-13 § 1 (part)).

2.03.025 Removal.

In circumstances where the council has the authority to remove from office a member of a board, committee, or commission prior to the expiration of the board, committee or commission member’s term of office, the council shall make such removal only upon the proper grounds specified in law. In the absence of such guidance in law, the council shall not remove a member from office without having given the member an opportunity to be heard by the council, if so requested. (Ord. 2001-028 Exh. A; Ord. 95-006 Exh. A; Ord. 93-003 Attachment E (part); Res. 83-19 (part); Res. 80-13 § 1 (part)).

2.03.030 Limited terms.

No board, commission or committee member shall serve more than two consecutive full terms. The first term of all members appointed to a newly created board, commission or committee shall be considered a full term for the purpose of this section, regardless of initial staggered term length. (Ord. 2001-028 Exh. A; Ord. 95-006 Exh. A; Ord. 93-003 Attachment E (part); Res. 80-13 § 2).

2.03.040 Executive’s terms.

Those positions to which the county council appoints the executive to serve shall be for the executive’s term of office. (Ord. 2001-028 Exh. A; Ord. 95-006 Exh. A; Ord. 93-003 Attachment E (part); Res. 80-13 § 3).

2.03.050 Effective date.

The term of office limitations shall apply to all appointments made by the county council since May 1, 1979. (Ord. 2001-028 Exh. A; Ord. 95-006 Exh. A; Ord. 93-003 Attachment E (part); Res. 80-13 § 4).

2.03.060 Appointment of non-councilmembers to boards, commissions and committees.

For appointment by the council of non-councilmembers to those boards, commissions and committees performing either an administrative or a legislative function, councilmembers shall make nominations and provide information about their nominees, in writing, if possible, at a regularly scheduled council meeting. Nominations for appointment to any position having a residency requirement as to councilmanic district shall be made only by the councilmembers from the district or the councilmember at large. Voting on these nominations shall be at the next regularly scheduled council meeting unless the council, by a two-thirds vote, requests otherwise. Such appointments shall be made by majority roll call vote of the council. (Ord. 2001-028 Exh. A; Ord. 95-006 Exh. A; Ord. 93-003 Attachment E (part); Ord. 91-030 (part)).

2.03.065 Appointment of planning commission members.

Council members will follow the procedure set forth in WCC 2.03.060 when making nominations and appointments to the planning commission. (Ord. 2001-028 Exh. A; Ord. 95-006 Exh. A; Ord. 93-003 Attachment E (part)).

2.03.070 Confirmation of appointments.

A. Council confirmation of executive appointments shall be handled in the following manner: The executive shall present in writing to the council office no later than seven days before the council meeting at which action is requested, the names of his appointments, positions and terms to which they are to be appointed, information on the appointees’ qualifications or background, and any other information the executive deems appropriate, except in the case of executive appointments to executive and administrative offices, in which case, this information shall include a job description and a resume. This information shall also be made available upon request to the public.

B. The council shall confirm or reject appointments by the county executive within 30 days of the date the names are submitted to it; failure to act within this time period shall cause the appointees to be deemed confirmed. Confirmation or rejections shall be by majority roll call vote. (Ord. 2001-028 Exh. A; Ord. 95-006 Exh. A; Ord. 93-003 Attachment E (part); Ord. 91-030 (part)).

2.03.075 Review of nominees and executive appointees.

A. Council members will individually be responsible for meeting or contacting individuals nominated to serve on a board, commission, or committee, and individuals whose appointment by the executive is scheduled for confirmation by the council, prior to the council’s consideration of the nomination or request for confirmation.

B. The council chairperson may arrange for the council interview of the nominee or the recommended executive appointee prior to the regularly scheduled council meeting at which appointment or confirmation will be considered.

C. The names of recommended appointees by the executive, and the names of nominees by council members, shall be published on the agenda for the council meeting at which action is to be taken in filling a position or confirming an appointment. (Ord. 2001-028 Exh. A; Ord. 95-006 Exh. A)

2.03.080 Vacancies on citizen boards, committees and commissions.

A. The clerk of the council shall cause to be compiled and published annually a listing of vacancies and anticipated vacancies on all citizen boards, committees and commissions, within the appointive jurisdiction of both the council and the executive.

B. The listing shall state the title and term of office of each position, residency requirements (if any), the appointing authority, and an address and telephone number for obtaining further information or for making applications. The listing shall also include a brief description of the duties of each position and information on when the regular meetings of the body in question are held.

C. The listing shall be posted in conspicuous places in the Courthouse, provided to all county council members, public libraries and city halls in the county, and be made available to the public and news media at no charge.

D. Persons expressing an interest in applying for appointment to a council-appointed position on a board, commission or committee shall be given an application form which they must complete and file with the clerk, giving their name, address, telephone number, occupation and relevant qualifications. The applications shall be kept on file in the clerk’s office.

E. Persons expressing an interest in applying for appointment to an executive-appointed position on a board, commission or committee shall be given an application form which they must complete and file with the executive’s office, giving their name, address, telephone number, occupation and relevant qualifications. The applications shall be kept on file in the executive’s office.

F. In fulfilling the obligations of this section, the clerk shall seek the cooperation of the executive and may accomplish his/her obligations through joint action with the executive’s office. (Ord. 2001-028 Exh. A; Ord. 95-006 Exh. A; Ord. 91-030 (part)).

2.03.090 Qualifications.

To qualify for appointment by the council and/or executive to fill any vacancy on a board, committee or commission, a person shall be a qualified registered voter resident of the district, agency, or group he or she is appointed to represent on a specific board, committee or commission meeting all of the qualifications of Section 4.20 of the Whatcom County Charter. (Ord. 2001-028 Exh. A; Ord. 95-006 Exh. A; Ord. 91-030 (part)).