Goldsboro City Council discusses board diversity during retreat
By Rochelle Moore
Published in News on March 25, 2018 3:05 AM
Members of the Goldsboro City Council took the first step in selecting members to its boards and commissions Thursday but not without some disagreement.
The council, which reviewed the names of 70 applicants to eight advisory boards, selected a handful of new members, which will be formally approved at the next council meeting.
The number of applicants has mounted during the past several months as the council has talked -- on and off -- about changes to the boards and need for more diversity.
Members for city commissions and committees are typically selected in November and December, with terms starting in January, said Scott Stevens, city manager.
Earlier this year, the council made changes to its council-appointed boards, including setting three-year terms for all positions, merging the Community Affairs and Community Development boards into a new Commission on Community Relations and eliminating the Appearance Commission.
During the council's annual retreat Thursday, at the Goldsboro Event Center, Councilman Antonio Williams asked to hold off Historic District Commission appointments after saying the applicants may not offer diversity on the board.
Councilman Gene Aycock said the application form does not include any information that identifies a person's race.
"I don't know the race of either one of them and, really, it doesn't matter," Aycock said. "Maybe some of you think it does, but it does not."
Williams said, in some cases, the race of an applicant is important.
"We need to make certain that we have these boards where they have individuals from all different perspectives on these boards," Williams said.
Aycock said it would be difficult to ensure diversity on city boards and commissions without knowing more about a person's background.
Councilman Bevan Foster said the city could start interviewing applicants, instead of just reviewing the applications on paper.
"Somehow we have to have an interview process ...," Foster said. "To get to the point where these boards are diverse, we have to start making some changes in that direction."
Aycock asked how the council would know it is not already selecting members that offer diversity.
"How can you do something not knowing?" Foster said. "Simple question."
"Because I don't look at race -- you do," Aycock said.
Mayor Chuck Allen said the council can review the applications to determine if they meet board requirements to serve.
The council selected the following members to its committees, commissions and boards:
* Commission on Community Relations: Tara Humphries and Elvira Johnson, with one vacancy remaining.
* Goldsboro Municipal Golf Course Committee: Gina Price.
* Goldsboro Historic District Commission: Joshua Johnson and Cortnee Hendrick.
* Goldsboro Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission: John Falkenstein, Danielle Baptiste and Linda Farmer.
* Mayor's Committee for Persons with Disabilities: Janet Baber, Dee Tripp, Stephen Taylor, Michelle Casarez, Evelyn Paul, Edna Turner and Sabrina Shivar.
* Goldsboro Planning Commission: Anthony Slater.
* Goldsboro Tourism Council: Eddie Edwards.