Bath Board Chair gives January report

Boards and commissions serving our community are one of the many important entities for programs, projects and policies to be considered, adopted and implemented for creating sense of place. Many of the 19 boards and commissions for which individuals from our community are appointed or recommended to the Court for appointment by the Board of Supervisors go unnoticed or appear to not be as important as others. Each one of the boards and commissions makes a positive impact in some way to our community.

We are familiar with the Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, Economic Development Authority,ServiceAuthorityandAirportAuthority,tonameafew. Yet,thereareapproximately67 appointees made with different term of appointment dates between 2016 and 2019. For the remainder of 2016 there are 19 board and commission members’ terms of appointment expiring, of which some may be considered for reappointment or those interested in serving will be considered. The list of boards and commissions is available in the office of County Administrator and on the County’s website. This list includes terms of expiration along with those boards and commissions for which members are paid a monthly stipend provided proof of attending meeting. At Board meetings, the Chair will report on upcoming board and commission appointments to expire and encourage all interested citizens to contact the office of County Administrator or their respective Board member with their name, address, telephone number, best time of day to be reached, and board and/or commission interested in being appointed to and serving.

Also, 11 of the 19 boards and commissions receive a specific stipend from the County only if the member has proven attendance at a meeting per month. The total annual budgeted and appropriated stipend cost through June 30, 2016 is $27,300. Often the annual cost is lower due to members not attending meetings or meetings not held each month. In addition, any board or commission member who travels to meetings outside of the County may submit a request for travel and mileage reimbursement based on the County’s travel and mileage reimbursement policy being followed. Stipends and travel and mileage reimbursements requested are included in the monthly list of invoices to be paid and approved by the Board of Supervisors at each monthly meeting. Records of board and commission members’ stipends and travel and mileage reimbursements paid are maintained in the County’s accounts receivable and payable files and available at the office of County Administrator.

Serving on a board or commission is taking time away from work, family, friends and life in general to provide a service to community. To those serving, we say thank you. To those interested in serving in the future, we look forward to receiving your information to be considered.