Community chiefs debate new rules

Proposed new city rules for Columbus area commissioners have upset a number of community leaders, especially term limits for officers, which they say will hamper their ability to do their work while tamping down interest in the volunteer positions.

The city has 19 area commissions, the first of which was created in the 1970s. They work to connect neighborhoods with Columbus officials in a city that has no ward City Council representatives. They also make recommendations on zoning to the City Council and discuss other issues facing their communities.

Some commission leaders have served for years, including Jim Griffin of the Columbus South Side Area Commission, who just began his ninth year as that group’s chairman. The proposed changes would require that the chairman, vice-chairman and treasurer serve no more than six consecutive years, but could serve again in leadership positions after a gap of at least three consecutive years.

“You’re going to lose some seasoned leaders in terms of area commissioner leadership,” Griffin said.

“They don’t have term limits for council and the mayor. If the person isn’t doing a good job, they won’t be elected to another term,” he said.

Carla Williams Scott, director of the city’s Department of Neighborhoods, said the city surveyed area commissioners to help determine what would make them more effective and efficient.

The city is taking feedback through March 8.

Scott said that city officials want to see more people become involved, and that commissioners should reflect the makeup of the communities they serve. They are proposing the number of commissioners be limited to 15. And they want to begin an awareness campaign so more people know what the commissions do.

“This is in no way personal for any one area commission or group of folks,” she said.

But some are taking it that way.

“If I want to volunteer in my neighborhood for 20 years, I should do that,” said Annie Womack, the vice chair of the Near East Area Commission for more than 10 years.

“When you start with all these rules, people don’t want to be involved,” Womack said.

Susan Keeny, of the University Area Commission, said term limits for officers’ positions will make it harder to find people who want to serve.

Stefanie Coe, who leads the Southwest Area Commission, said she has offered to step down as chairwoman at the end of each year, but no one has wanted to step up to take her place.

“Practically, I think this is ridiculous,” she said.