Want a say in local government? Join a city board or commission
Regular Chattanoogans can have real decision-making power by volunteering to serve on a city board or commission.
This piece was written by William Newlin, based on an interview conducted by Nathan Bird for Chattanooga Civics. Subscribe to the Chattanooga Civics newsletter and podcast here.
Fast facts:
Citizen-led city boards and commissions impact how Chattanooga runs, from public transit, to public art, to building and construction
There are 52 boards and commissions
Currently, there are about 120 vacancies
Chattanooga’s citizen-led boards and commissions give Chattanoogans a way to influence decision-making in the city, whether it’s approving beer licenses, hearing appeals about wastewater fines, or other civic duties.
And right now, the more than 50 civic bodies need new applicants — nearly three-quarters of them have vacant positions. Some, like the Passenger Vehicles For Hire Board, have spots open to any Chattanoogan. Others require members to have expertise in a certain field. On the Tree Commission for example, five of nine members must be a landscape architect, realtor, home builder or other professional in a narrow range of industries.
“People in Chattanooga who have been saying, ‘I really wish I could give back to my city or have a say in how my city is run’ — we have so many opportunities for that,” said Chris Anderson, senior advisor to Mayor Tim Kelly. “And I think most people don't know that.”
The power of boards
Most board or commission members are unpaid, and the gig typically requires about an hour a month to attend a meeting. Yet that volunteer work can come with significant responsibilities.
The CARTA Board and the Library Commission are among the most powerful, hiring and determining the pay for the directors of CARTA and the city-wide library system.
“The way those boards operate is a little more like a nonprofit board of directors than, say, an appeals board or an advisory board,” Anderson said.
While high profile boards, such as CARTA’s, may attract high profile members (the chair of the CARTA Board, Johan de Nysschen, is a former Volkswagen executive), any Chattanoogan with a specific passion can still receive an appointment.
For example, Corey Evatt received his appointment to the CARTA board in February after drawing attention to public transportation issues through his local organization and social media campaign ChattaTransit.
Other bodies draw less attention despite their important decision-making and oversight roles. Take the Construction Board of Adjustment and Appeals, which has the power to approve variations to Chattanooga’s building codes when appealed by a building owner.
Its nine members, all construction experts, “have solved some complicated problems over the years,” Anderson said.
Boards can be influential in individual neighborhoods as well — especially Community Advisory Committees. There are 10 committees covering Chattanooga that advise local community centers about programming and neighborhood engagement. There are currently around 50 vacancies across all of the committees.
How to join a board
You can browse vacancies and apply for an open board seat that interests you here.
Various city departments review applications to make sure aspiring board members meet requirements. Mayor Kelly has the final selection in board appointments, which City Council often has to approve.
Council members may also make appointments, such as for the Police Advisory and Review Committee that oversees internal police investigations into officer misconduct.
One barrier to serving on a board or commission is the time involved. Most meet during business hours and some, such as the Regional Planning Commission can hold meetings lasting multiple hours.
Anderson said applicants have to be aware of the time commitment, and city officials try to match people with opportunities that work for them.
“If you live in the city of Chattanooga and you want to serve on a board, we will find a place for you to contribute to your community,” he said.