Citizens feeling duty’s urge to public service have ample opportunity, as there are 11 vacancies on Charlottesville boards and commissions. And with only 10 applications to fill those spots, local government could use some more competition. Of particular note: Three of seven slots on the influential City Planning Commission are up for grabs. With applications due August 3, City Clerk Jeanne Cox has only received four applications, with one from current commissioner John Fink. Applications are due by Thursday, August 3.
“The general consensus is that this number of vacancies is normal,” says Ric Barrick, City spokesman.
One of the least popular boards seems to be the Vendor Appeals Board. While all three slots are open, zero applications have been submitted. Perhaps the lack of interest is because people misunderstand what the Vendor Appeals Board does. If you think it involves regulating Tibetan tchotchke tables on the Downtown Mall, you’d be wrong: It’s really all about City bids and contract disputes.
Meanwhile in Albemarle County, several committees had no bites, despite having an application due date of July 27. No one showed official interest in the Commission on Children and Families, the Housing Committee or the Jordan Development Committee, which operates apartment facilities for the elderly and disabled. Meagan Hoy, senior deputy clerk for the County, says that if a vacancy isn’t filled, they usually just re-advertise.
All numbers are as of press time.
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