Policy for Application and Appointment of Citizens or Agency/Government Body Representatives to any Committee
Purpose
To provide general criteria and guidelines for appointing, reappointing, and/or confirming nominations of citizens to any board, committee, commission, council, task force, or authority, including those created by the Board of County Commissioners.
Policy
The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners (the “BOCC”) has created by ordinance, resolution, and motion, boards, committees, commissions, councils, and task forces (collectively “advisory committees”) as required or permitted by law. These advisory committees serve in an advisory or other capacity to the BOCC on myriad issues.
Additionally, pursuant to federal or state law, the Hillsborough County Charter, County ordinances, and interlocal agreements, the BOCC has created agencies, development and redevelopment authorities, and regulatory and adjustment boards, some of which have quasi-judicial functions (collectively, “quasi-judicial boards”). The BOCC has designated duties, powers, and functions to be carried out in compliance with the enabling acts of these boards.
Hereafter, all references to “committees” throughout this policy, without a corresponding distinction of “advisory” or “quasi-judicial” shall refer to all BOCC boards, committees, commissions, councils, and task forces, regardless of its advisory or quasi-judicial purpose.
The Board of County Commissioners (the “BOCC”) declares that, as its policy, the general guidelines enumerated herein and within the “Procedural Rules and Regulations for Board Appointments,” included in this policy, be used in making appointments, reappointments, and/or confirming nominations to any committees, including those created by the BOCC.
The composition of a number of these committees is established by federal or state law, interlocal agreement, the Hillsborough County Charter, County ordinance, resolution, or policy of the BOCC. Therefore, the Board of County Commissioners shall give special attention to the criteria imposed by law when making either appointment and/or confirming nominations.
In addition to any legal or other criteria (such as professional qualifications), the BOCC shall require that all applicants be registered voters in Hillsborough County, or for specific committees, registered to vote in the County in which they reside, and that applicants for certain committees undergo background checks and/or be residents of the unincorporated area of Hillsborough County. All applicants must be residents of the state of Florida.
In an effort to have committees that include citizens who represent the entire county, the BOCC shall largely consider race, gender, and those citizens who actively participate in the community when making appointments and/or confirming nominations. County staff, unless serving in the capacity of an agency/governing body representative, shall not serve on a committee. Unless specifically approved by the BOCC, no citizen may serve on more than one committee at a time.
General Application Process
The Committees Coordinator will oversee the appointment, reappointment, and confirmation processes for boards, committees, and authorities that require recruitment and approval by the BOCC. This includes all committees created by the BOCC.
The Committees Coordinator will prepare a press release for publicizing available positions. This will be sent to the Communications Department for distribution and publication. The Committees Coordinator will accept applications from anyone seeking appointment for available positions. Should an additional vacancy occur during the publicizing process, that vacancy shall be publicized separately. In the event that only one application is received during the initial recruitment period, a second recruitment cycle shall be conducted to ensure a broader pool of candidates.
All citizens seeking appointment, reappointment, or confirmation of nomination to any committee, including agency/governing body representatives, and citizens appointed by individual commissioners, shall be required to complete, sign and date an application and Standards of Conduct Form via the online application portal on the County website or by submitting a paper application. Should it be required for the committee, the applicant will also be required to sign consent for a background check. Applications already on file will not be considered if more than one year old. Current members seeking reappointment will need to resubmit application if they wish to be reconsidered. Elected officials who are seeking appointment do not have to complete an application or the Standards of Conduct Form if they are doing so in their official capacity.
Consistent with the “Procedural Rules and Regulations for Board Appointments,” applications are reviewed to ensure applicants meet relevant technical, legal, or residency requirements.
If an applicant does not meet the relevant requirements the application shall be rejected. The applicant shall be notified in writing and a copy of this notification shall be submitted to the BOCC.
If an applicant meets the relevant requirements, the application shall be accepted for consideration. The applicant shall be placed on a ballot for appointment and/or confirmation by the BOCC.
General Appointment Process
Only single applicant appointments and/or confirmations will be placed on the BOCC’s consent agenda.
The person with at least four votes shall be elected. The person(s) with the fewest votes shall be eliminated, unless only one nominee remains who has not received at least four votes.
In such case, balloting will continue with the remaining candidates until each remaining vacancy is filled by at least four votes. When there are full and partial terms (i.e. terms of varying lengths) available, the Commissioners shall select candidates for each length of term category.
The BOCC may reappoint an applicant if that person wishes to serve a successive term, unless term limits apply, but shall give equal consideration to other applicants.
All appointees shall be subject to applicable federal, state, and local laws.
Unless otherwise provided for by law, all appointees serve at the will of the BOCC and can be removed from their appointment at any time for any or no reason. No vacancy in the County’s committees shall be filled ninety (90) days before a commissioner election. Members whose terms expire during the 90-day moratorium may continue serving in their current positions until the moratorium has ended and the appointment process resumes. Newly elected commissioner(s) may notify the Boards and Councils Coordinator, within 90 days of their election, that they wish to advertise one or more current members of the committees. Any member of a whose position is readvertised may submit an application to remain on that committee.
Responsibilities
On behalf of the Board of County Commissioners, the Committees Coordinator shall be responsible for facilitating the appointment process as outlined herein and more specifically identified within the enclosed “Procedural Rules and Regulations for Board Appointments,”.