The Fishers City Council faces a number of issues in 2021, including how to address diversity in council appointments to boards and commissions.  That, and many other issues, were discussed in a podcast featuring Council President Selina Stoller and Vice President David George.

At the first council session of 2021, Councilwoman Jocelyn Vare proposed changes to the process of selecting council appointees to boards and commissions, saying it would provide a more diverse set of appointments.  The measure was defeated in a 7-2 vote, with Vare and fellow Democrat Sam DeLong the only council members voting in favor.

“Councilor Vare’s approach, was, in my opinion, unrealistic and individualistic,” said Stoller in the podcast interview recorded February 1st.  “She really didn’t seek to work with other councilors.”

Stoller said she agrees with Vare on a number of points, but the vote on the coming year’s appointments was not the right time.  Stoller added that Vare does not appear to understand why some appointees serve on more than one panel.

When asked why he chose not to comment, as did no other councilor, when the proposal was voted down, David George didn’t see a reason to do so.  ”I guess now you’re supposed to respond to every single thing at every minute,” George said.  The council vice president then detailed his view of how council appointments have been handled in the past.

When asked whether the council should consider a new process for appointments to address diversity, both appeared open to the possibility but had no specific ideas on how that would work.

Councilwoman Vare noted in the January council meeting that 80% of appointments to city boards and commissions are white males.

In other issues addressed in the podcast:

–Neither councilor appeared to favor moving up teachers on the list to receive COVID vaccines

–Both remain supportive of Mayor Scott Fadness’ decision to create a city health department

–Both expect updates to the city’s comprehensive plan

–Neither would commit on how to handle a planned affordable housing community near 141st Street and Cumberland Road

–Both said the council would be involved in the construction of the tunnel underneath 116th Street for the Nickel Plate Trail, which will require re-routing traffic this summer, and expect progress on the Geist Waterfront Park.

You can listen to the entire podcast at the link below.