It was nearly two years ago that Fishers City Councilor Jocelyn Vare made a statement at a City Council meeting about the lack of diversity among the council’s appointments to boards and commissions. Councilor Vare has issued a statement Tuesday saying 47 Fishers residents applied for appointments to local boards and commissions, but none were appointed by the Council. The City Council President has a different view.
Vare points to the minutes of the only City Council Rules Committee meeting that has been held since that body was created, listing recommended appointments. The vote to approve the list of appointments was unanimous among the Rules Committee members The full Council will vote on the appointments at the January 17 meeting.
Councilor Vare pulled no punches in expressing her views on the current state of appointments.
“It is clear from this two-year-long journey that the current city administration and majority of the city council do not take the responsibility (of) board and commission appointments seriously,” wrote Vare in her statement. “The Republican majority is determined to control these appointments and (has) no concern about a lack of transparency. They are not serving the entire community. They are serving themselves and hope you don’t notice.”
City Council President John Weingardt responded that the appointment listing approved by the Rules Committee re-appointed people he and the Council majority believe are doing a good job in their appointed roles. If there are openings on these boards and commissions, Weingardt says the 47 people with applications on file will be considered.
When asked how the Council majority evaluates the job each appointee is doing in their respective duties, Weingardt said that evaluation is an ongoing process throughout the year. The council members receive feedback on the way each appointee handles the duties assigned, according to Weingardt.
The job the appointees are doing is reflected in how the city is doing, according to the Council President, which Weingardt describes as good work based on the progress the city has made in the past year