LIVE @ City of Asheville Boards and Commission Realignment Working Group 9/13/22

Recap of City of Asheville Boards and Commission Realignment Working Group Meeting – September 13, 2022

The City of Asheville Boards and Commission Realignment Working Group (RWG) convened on September 13, 2022, for a meeting intended to discuss potential realignments of the city's various boards and commissions. However, a review of the meeting transcript reveals an unusual and ultimately unproductive session. The entire recorded hour and fifty-nine minutes consisted primarily of participants repeatedly stating "Thank you," offering no substantive discussion or progress towards the working group's objectives.

Notably, there were absolutely no decisions made and no votes taken during the meeting. The transcript provides no insight into any potential realignment proposals, nor does it reflect any debate or consideration of those possibilities. Consequently, there was no opportunity for public comment or community input regarding the group's work. The meeting effectively bypassed any engagement with residents on this important topic.

Given the absence of discussion, there are no discernible action items or next steps resulting from this meeting. The lack of any substantive proceedings raises concerns about the working group's ability to fulfill its mandate, which is to evaluate and recommend potential realignments of city boards and commissions. The purpose of this working group is to ensure that Asheville’s governance structure effectively serves the community, and this meeting offered no steps towards achieving that goal.

The unusual nature of this meeting warrants further investigation to understand the circumstances surrounding it and why a scheduled discussion resulted in only repeated acknowledgements. Residents may be interested to learn more about the RWG’s charter and planned timeline for recommendations, as this meeting clearly did not contribute to that process. The City of Asheville is encouraged to provide clarity on the group’s future activities and how residents can engage in discussions about boards and commission realignment.