Hamilton looking for 270 committed citizens
City hall appointments come with a whiff of cronyism, drive for diversity
If you have a hankering to push a pet cause or get your feet wet in municipal affairs without actually running for office, this is your chance.
The upcoming citizen appointment to the high-profile Hamilton Police Services Board may be getting all the media attention right now, but there are literally hundreds of other openings for citizens on various city committees up for grabs.
If you’re interested, you’ll have to move pretty quickly, though. The deadline for submitting applications is Dec. 14.
Many people don’t realize that the start of each new council term doesn’t just kick off another fouryear cycle of governing the city and all the related political hijinks that go with it.
It also signals the beginning of citizen appointments to dozens of city agencies, boards and committees mandated to advise council on civic issues, programs and activities. They range from making policy recommendations for persons with disabilities to tackling affordable housing and homelessness concerns.
The city is currently hoping to fill about 270 of these positions, according to city legislative co-ordinator Loren Kolar.
That includes finding four volunteers for the agriculture and rural advisory committee, up to 15 citizens for the committee against racism, five for the Hamilton Conservation Authority, up to 15 for the cycling committee, and as many people who care to sign on to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer advisory committee.
You can check out the full list of openings, committee mandates, requirements and how to apply at www.hamilton.ca/council-committee/council-committee-meetings/ apply-serve-committee-or-board.
Other than those chosen to sit on the police board, conservation authorities, Hamilton Port Authority and committee of adjustment, the vast majority of appointees serve as unpaid volunteers.
They’re chosen two ways, Kolar notes.
For the subcommittees, a selection committee made up of five councillors meets to appoint or interview applicants, depending on the number of applications received and positions to be filled.
For advisory committees, each standing committee of council (with the exception of planning) appoints councillors to an interview subcommittee, which then meets to either appoint or interview applicants.
Mind you, since time immemorial, there’s always been a bit of a whiff around some appointments and reappointments. You don’t need to be a cynic to figure out why.
The reality is, the appointments are sometimes accompanied by backroom lobbying and the appearance of cronyism. Whether it’s to reward an election campaign worker, assist a former member of council or simply please a hanger-on, the process can and certainly has been tainted by political and personal considerations rather than an objective adherence to qualifying skills and experience.
That said, the city is clearly attempting to broaden the membership makeup of its committees in order to be more inclusive and reflect the diversity of the community.
The application forms include a voluntary “demographic self-identification” questionnaire to assist in creating an accurate picture of the diversity of the applicants. Answering is optional, participation is encouraged and the data is treated confidentially.
Questions include whether the applicant self-identifies as a woman, Aboriginal, member of a visible minority or person with a disability. Applicants are also asked if they’re willing to be interviewed by the council selection committee.
Anyone interested in applying can attend an optional information session at city hall on Nov. 28 outlining the various committees, time commitments and qualifications. The session will run from 4 to 8 p.m.
According to Kolar, the 2014-18 term of council saw approximately 600 citizens apply to sit on the various agencies, boards and committees. That’s a pretty good turnout, suggesting that for some citizens, engagement means a lot more than just voting every four years.