The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners dealt with recommendations for reappointments and appointments to the St. Joseph County Commission on Aging Board during Tuesday’s (June 19) county commissioners meeting – activity in which the current chair and vice-chair of the COA Board were not reappointed.
Commissioner Allen Balog worked from a memo to commissioners outlining ‘Commission on Aging Board Appointment Recommendations’ that emerged from the Executive Committee meeting last Friday (June 15). As noted in the memo, “The interview/selection committee (Commissioners Robin Baker, Jerry Ware) interviewed new candidates as well as current Board members for the one vacant seat and the six seats with terms that will expire the end of June 2012.”
The board proceeded to deal with the recommendations on an individual basis and voted to reappoint the following persons:
- Tim Carmichael, term expiring June 30, 2013 (member-at-large is 1-year term)
- Charles Willer, term expiring June 30, 2014
- Lori Wright, term expiring June 30, 2014.
When the name of current COA Board Chair Lorrie Witt was announced for a term expiring June 30, 2014, no motion was offered and the process moved on with approval of the following appointments:
- Barbara Fisher, term expiring June 30, 2013 (vacant seat)
- Margaret Shultz, term expiring June 30, 2014
- Jay Newman, term expiring June 30, 2014.
Following the voting, County Administrator Judy West-Wing noted the unfilled position and asked, “What do you intend to do?” A motion to advertise for a vacancy on the COA Board quickly followed and was approved on a 6-to-nothing vote. The seventh member of the board, Commissioner Jerry Loudenslager, was absent.
In brief remarks following completion of the process, Board Chairman Rick Shaffer thanked those who served on the interview/selection committee and, referring to the interviewing of current COA Board members and candidates, said, “It’s something we don’t often see.”
Witt, who has chaired the COA Board in recent years, was re-elected to the position by the COA Board during its meeting on May 16, as was Vice-Chair J.D. Yoder. As noted in minutes from last Friday’s Executive Committee meeting, Yoder and another current member of the COA Board, Polly Oliver, “are not recommended for reappointment.”
The terms of those reappointed or appointed Tuesday begin July 1.
To hear audio of the reappointment/appointment activity during Tuesday’s county commissioners meeting, click here (5:04 – 4.64 MB).
