FAIRMONT– The city of Fairmont is currently accepting applications from community members who want to get involved by serving on a board or commission.

City Administrator Cathy Reynolds said that every year around this time they seek applications as terms for most of the boards and commissions expire at the end of January.

“At the January meetings the mayor will make their recommended appointments for the boards and commissions. The city council then approves those recommendations. We notify the people appointed and they start those positions in February,” Reynolds explained.

The appointments are three to five year terms. Some of them have a limit of three terms, but some do not have term limits. Most boards and commissions have five members on them.

The city can set up boards and commissions and what ones a city has is really driven by the community and what it wants. The police civil service commission was chosen to be locally created, as were the airport board, safety council and park board. However, there are certain ones required by state statute, like the board of zoning appeals and planning commission.

“The role of boards and commissions is an opportunity for the community to provide recommendations to the city council,” Reynolds explained.

One of the things some of the boards provide input on are budget items. Park board, for example, provides input on what items should be included in the budget and what projects the city should focus on.

While most boards and commissions don’t have approval authority, some of them do, like the public utilities commission. Most of the others provide recommendations.

Each board and commission has a staff member that’s assigned to them. That staff member prepares agendas and minutes and brings items to the board or commission for action. Each board and commission also has a council liaison on them.

“The council liaison role, except on FEDA, is a non-voting role but it’s a means of the council having a person present at meetings to hear the discussion. When the item comes forward to the council for action, that liaison is in the position of being able to explain to council the thought process or discussion behind the board or commission’s recommendation,” Reynolds said.

Like committee appointments, the council members provide input on what board or commission they want to be on. The mayor then takes that information and makes appointments, which council must approve.

Right now, there are open positions on the police commission, park board, public utilities commission, planning commission, board of zoning appeals, safety council, airport advisory board and housing and redevelopment authority.

The application is on the city’s website at fairmont.org. Paper copies are also available at city hall. The deadline to apply is Dec. 30.

“If someone wants to get involved, we encourage them to apply for any board or commission that they’re interested in,” Reynolds said.

Current members who have not termed out and or do not have a term limit are asked to reapply if they would like to be reappointed.

“It’s a great chance for people to get involved and engaged in the community and provide input to the city council,” Reynolds said.