Vacancies plentiful with 14 spots to fill
By Barb Pert Templeton
If your New Year’s resolution was to get more involved in your community Marine City certainly has opportunities to do just that as they have 14 board vacancies heading into 2025.
City Clerk Jason Bell took time during his report to the city commission at a Jan. 23 meeting to share the list of boards that currently have vacancies. It was lengthy and in fact, at times, a bit confusing but true to the parameters set out in the city charter.
In a phone interview on Jan. 28 Bell readily admitted that explaining the openings was challenging and he was doing his best to follow ordinances related to the various city boards.
At the moment these boards have seats to be filled:
· One on the Historical Commission,
· One on the Board of Review,
· One alternate for the Board of Review
· Two on the Zoning Board of Appeals
The Marine City offices are located at 260 S. Parker Street.
· Two vacancies on the Tax Increment Finance Authority (TIFA)
· One citizen at large on the Pension Board of Trustees.
In addition to those eight, since the city commission dissolved the 300 Broadway Committee and replaced it with the Arts, Culture and History Commission, that new board will have nine seats. Three of the positions are appointed by their respective boards (City Commission member appointed by CC, Historical Commission member appointed by the HC and the Planning Commission member appointed by the PC).
After filling those, six seats are left open. One is needed for a Marine City Chamber of Commerce member and one from the city’s Historical Society and both need to apply before being appointed by the mayor and city commission. The other four seats, which are “at large” positions, would also need to apply and be appointed by the mayor and city commission.
The public’s welcome to fill out applications and provide resumes for the open seats on the Arts, Culture and History Commission and former 300 Broadway Committee members are especially encouraged to apply.
During the phone interview Bell provided a break-down of each board and the current number of members.
TIFA – seven members and two seats are open.
The Board of Review – three members and needs one member and one alternate.
The Zoning Board of Appeals – five members with two seats to fill
The Pension Board of Trustees – five members and needs just one seat filled– a citizen at large.
All of the boards meet quarterly or as needed.
Requirements to serve on city boards include (in most instances) being a resident of the city, being a registered voter, not being in default to the city for any taxes or water charges and there’s a space to list areas of personal interest.
Applications for all the open spots are being taken until Thursday, Feb. 13 at noon.
Once the deadline has been met Bell gathers the applicants and provides the paperwork to the members of the city commission. Mayor Jennifer Vandenbossche will then move to appoint the individuals to the open seats on various boards and the commission will vote on it.
“I’m hoping to see applicants for all of them,” Bell said.
The application on the city’s website is straight forward asking for personal information like name, address and phone number. Then there’s a spot to check the box for the board the person wishes to serve on.
Visit cityofmarinecity.org to apply.
