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Lack Of Volunteers Prompts City To Revamp Some Advisory Committees

At the Bethel City Council meeting on Tuesday, April 24, Council voted to trim down the number of volunteer committees it uses, combining the Energy and Public Works Committees into one.
Christine Trudeau
/
KYUK

  

On Tuesday, the Bethel City Council trimmed down the number of volunteer committees by combining the Energy Committee and the Public Works Committee into one. This was done to hopefully solve the problem of getting a quorum for meetings. It’s still unknown whether the change will be permanent, but for the Council it’s a much-needed fix.

 

 

Even with Council members Mitchell Forbes and Naim Shabani absent, the vote was unanimous. Councilman Mark Springer made the proposal to amend the city code to combine the Public Works Committee and the Energy Committee. The lack of a quorum had left both committees unable to act; the same thing has happened with the Port Commission.

 

For example, Vice Mayor Fred Watson was appointed Council Representative to the Public Works Committee in October of 2017, with their first meeting scheduled for that November, but the committee never met, due to a lack of a quorum. Watson said that the Council needs the expertise of community volunteers.

 

“We have significant things to discuss,” said Watson. “Huge things that are going to affect the way that we do business. It’s gonna affect our roads, our water, sewer; we need to start getting minds together and coming up with best viable options. The more people involved, the more ideas come up.”

 

Public Works has six open seats right now, but with the Tuesday action the council hopes it will pick up two members from the Energy Committee. This would leave four empty seats, but would be enough to make a quorum. Watson is hopeful that the decision will enable his committee to finally meet again next month, on the third Wednesday in May. He’s eager to start discussing issues with the roads and the water and sewer trucks.

 

“We’re coming up on a new budget season, and that’s where we should actually start talking about it because it’s gonna cost us money; it’s going to affect our budget,” Watson said.   

 

Council member Mark Springer, who served as a Council Representative to the Energy Committee, felt that the combined committee could be effective.   

 

“We’ve seen some pretty heavy lifting done in the past by the Public Works Committee on water and sewer issues and water and sewer development,” said Springer. “The Energy Committee, on the other hand, is something of a special interest committee.”

 

Council member Raymond “Thor” Williams said that the Council has to do its part in giving the committees direction.

 

“They feel like they’re not being listen[ed to] by the body that oversights those committees,” Williams said.

 

City Clerk Lori Strickler told KYUK in an email that filling committee seats has been an ongoing issue. It is not yet clear who on the Energy Committee will move to Public Works or the Port Commission. Currently there are five open seats on the Port Commission, while the Public Works Committee has six.

 

The change in committee structure goes into effect immediately. At the next City Council meeting on May 8, the council is expected to move Council member Mark Springer to the Port Commission, replacing Mayor Robb, who will be free from serving on any city commissions or committees.