Guidelines and Policies for Boards, Commissions, & Committees

City of Escanaba Boards, Commissions and Committees provide a way that residents can participate in their government. According to the Code of Ordinances, the City Council creates, regulates, sets terms of offices and establishes the duties for Boards, Commissions and Committees as needed. City Boards, Commissions and Committees can best serve the City when they are fully aware of the missions and priorities of the City Council.

Membership: The Mayor traditionally appoints Members with concurrence of the City Council. Announcement of vacancies will be made at the Council meeting preceding that at which the appointment will be made. This allows interested citizens to submit their name and qualifications for consideration. The manager may appoint Ex-Officio representatives of City Administration to serve as advisors and provide liaison.

Conflict Of Interest: A member of a City Board, Commission and Committee serves the people and shall not receive personal or business benefit as a result of serving. A member who has a financial interest in the outcome of a particular matter before the Board, Commission and Committee should be excused from deliberations. If the member does not announce her/his own conflict of interest, another member may request that the involved person not participate in discussion nor vote on the issue over which there is a conflict of interest.

Length Of Term: Length of term varies with the particular Board or Commission. The term of most Boards and Commissions is three years. A member may be reappointed for a second term. Consult the City Clerk regarding length of term of a specific Board, Commission and Committee that are advisory in nature unless otherwise specified.

Powers: The powers of such Boards and Commissions are delegated to them by Council resolution, Charter, ordinance or state law. City Boards, Commissions and Committees are advisory in nature unless otherwise specified.

Removal From Office: Members may be removed because of poor attendance, malfeasance, conflict of interest or conduct that might damage the reputation of the City or the individual on the respective Board, Commission, or Committee.

Meeting Of The Board, Commission Or Committee: Notices of the meetings for calendar year are posted and provided to the City Manager’s Office in early January. The notice shall include, date, place, time and handicapped accessibility information. Any deviations from these posted notices are to be reported at least 18 hours before the meeting. For committees who meet “at the call of the chair”, the notices shall be posted and forwarded to the City Manager’s Office no later than 18 hours before the meeting.

Responsibility of Board, Commission Or Committee

  1. A person often seeks appointment to a City Board, Commission or Committee because of her or his involvement with a particular activity, or because she or he has a specific interest or expertise in the focus of that Board, Commission or Committee. For example, the Harbor Advisory Committee includes some boaters and bankers serve on the Loan Administration Board. However, it must be remembered that the member represents all people and the entire City and not that special interest when serving on that Board, Commission or Committee.
  2. Minutes of every meeting held by a City Board, Commission or Committee are to be furnished to the City Manager and signed by the chair of that Board, Commission or Committee. The Manager, in turn, will circulate these minutes to the City Council. It is helpful if the date, time and place of the next meeting appear in the minutes in case anyone wishes to provide input or to attend.
  3. Boards, Commissions or Committees shall consult with the City Manager or his designated representative (such as department head) before taking action which will be legally binding on the City or obligate the City financially.
  4. The respective Department Head should be kept informed about actions being considered by the Board, Commission or Committee.
  5. Press releases from a Board, Commission or Committee shall be released through the City Manager for review by the City Council in advance of the release to the public. The City Manager may determine that some releases are routine and do not need advance notice. For example library hours and the opening date of the beach.

Policy for Appointments to Board and Commissions

1. No person will be appointed to serve more than two (2) successive full terms on any City Board or Commission.

2. Unless otherwise specified by law, a full term will be construed as a three-year period.

3. Any person appointed to fill an unexpired term will be eligible for reappointment at the end of the unexpired term. If the unexpired term which has been filled by said person was less than two-thirds (2/3) of a board term, it shall be not construed as a “full term.” If the interim appointment exceeded two-thirds (2/3) of a term, it will be considered a “full term, and the citizen will be eligible for appointment to only one other full term. (Revised June 2, 1994)

4. Pursuant to a resolution adopted by the City Council on July 7 2014: Across the Board, if statutorily allowed, and if an individual members 2nd term was set to expire, the Mayor with Council consensus, could extend an individual members term one year, up to three times;

If statutorily allowable, allow individual members to also serve on two Boards or Commissions.