[Durham INC] Durham boards and commissions

[M. W. Shiflett - Hotmail]

As far as I am aware there are only two citizen boards that members are minimally 'compensated',  the remaining boards and commissions are all volunteer (read NO $$$).

While there are some 'costs' for these boards to meet (facilities usually at a city or county location) and/or staff time to support their work,  in every case that I am aware of THEY ARE CHAIRED AND FILLED WITH MEMBERS THAT ARE CONCERNED CITIZENS REVOLVING AROUND AND ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE FOCUS OR MISSION OF THAT BOARD OR COMMISSION.

While I can obviously understand the need for the governor to reduce costs and expenditures statewide,  citizen voluntary involvement in these boards and commissions (at least here in Durham) are worth multiples of their costs in educational and participatory roles they provide us by intertwining both public servants and residents in solving just about every problem you can think of.

But this is just my personal opinion.

mike shiflett

ps-BOA and HAB 


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Josie McNeil 
  To: freespirit0623 at earthlink.net 
  Cc: inc listserv 
  Sent: Thursday, December 16, 2010 11:31 AM
  Subject: [Durham INC] Durham boards and commissions


  Dear Julie,

  I am in my second term on Durham's Open Space and Trails Commission (durhamost.org).  I was led in this direction by going through the Durham Neighborhood College.  I highly recommend the Neighborhood College to  all people who want to understand better how our City and County function.

  All Durham boards and commissions meet regularly and are open to the public.  The meeting times and locations can be found at the city website durhamnc.gov.  I think the more that non-members attend, the better.  Please join us on the 3rd Wednesday of eny month at 7pm on the 2nd floor of City Hall.

  Josie McNeil Owen
  Lochaven Hills Neighborhood, north Durham


  On Thu, Dec 16, 2010 at 11:22 AM, Free Spirit <freespirit0623 at earthlink.net> wrote:

    Yes, I would have to say that anyone who isn't paying attention to Durham's boards and commissions isn't paying full attention to Durham.  The fact that so few pay attention to most of these entities strikes me as a much bigger opportunity for mischief than a cut of any number.  In any case, I don't think a number tells you very much.  If 90% of the boards and commissions are providing little to no value, then a 2/3 cut is not nearly enough.  If 90% are providing good value, then a 1/4 cut is too much.

    I would be interested to hear what knowlege and experience people on this listserv have of the different boards and commissions, in Durham and/or at the state level.  I myself am in the middle of a learning experience on this issue.

    Julie Omohundro
    Durham, North Carolina
    freespirit0623 at earthlink.net





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      From: inc-list-bounces at rtpnet.org [mailto:inc-list-bounces at rtpnet.org] On Behalf Of Pat Carstensen
      Sent: Thursday, December 16, 2010 7:48 AM
      To: inc listserv

      Subject: [Durham INC] Governor's plan to cut the number of commissions





      Now, I suppose some of the boards are really antiquated or duplicates (I just found out Durham has a Boxing and Wrestling Commission because new members were just appointed to it -- who knew?) but a decrease by 2/3 seems like an immense opportunity for mischief.  


      Any thoughts on what boards or commissions we might need to be vocal about supporting?  Or just re-definitions of boards that are even more insidious?


      Regards, pat



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