Board Out of Their Minds

The City of Austin: 55 volunteer boards and commissions, totaling 450 citizen members, and no two run the same way. Back in April, the city manager’s office was ordered to turn a 2003 report on their assorted rules into workable policy that would standardize board rules and procedures. Assistant City Manager Bert Lumbreras got to present the findings to the council today.

First off, definitions: Under the recommendations, a board is anything with a minimum three-year lifespan, and a task-force is anything with a set end-date. Unless directed by state or federal law, boards would have seven members (resident in Austin), one from each council office and confirmed by majority vote. Although there would be no additional mandatory membership qualifications, lobbyists are still out, and anyone with a conflict of interest should recuse themselves.

New members would take a 3 ½ hour orientation course before starting their three-year term. The plan proposes a three-term limit, with a one-hour refresher every year. Incumbents needn’t worry: their clock would get set to zero, so prior membership wouldn’t count. Minimum quarterly meetings: miss three without good reason, you’re out.

Where it gets interesting is board votes. Seven members, four present to be quorate, is straight-forward enough. But an affirmative vote would require a majority member vote, so no barely-quorate meetings passing a recommendation on three ‘ayes.’

The proposals will be presented to the Ethics Commissions on October 22, then come up for public hearing November 8.