Boards and Commissions Vacancies

For Immediate Release: Monday, February 01, 2021

Board of Commissioners seeking volunteers for advisory boards and commissions

Various boards, committees and commissions advise the Board of Commissioners on matters of interest to people who live and work in Washington County. Committees themselves do not pass ordinances to establish policy; their purpose is to study issues and make recommendations.

Commission members are volunteers appointed by the County Board of Commissioners. In many cases, members must be residents of Washington County. Serving on an appointed board or commission is an opportunity for Washington County residents to participate in decisions that affect them and to learn more about how local government works.

Description: Planning for future services and reviewing current programs are two key roles for these 19 volunteers (13 regular and 6 alternate members). Their community ties and personal or professional familiarity with issues facing seniors and veterans make them an invaluable resource for Washington County Disability, Aging & Veterans' Services and the Board of Commissioners. The Council advises the department on policy, programs, and actions affecting the delivery of services and generally serves as an advocate for veterans and the elderly.
Member Description: Nineteen members (13 regular and 6 alternate) including: consumers over age 60, Minority, an elected official, Veterans Healthcare Provider, Veterans Provider, General Public, under 60 veteran and Rural
Term: 3 years

Time Commitment: 5 to 10 hours per month

Meetings: Usually the third Thursday of every other month, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Contact: Janet Long, 503-846-3081

Description: Identifies community needs, recommends funding priorities, and helps select and evaluate service providers. The County's emphasis on contracting with community agencies for social services makes the work of this volunteer advisory council critical.
Member Description: Comprised of nineteen members including recipients of service, advocates, professionals in the field, key referral sources, provider representatives, and lay citizens. Members are residents of the county or have work interests in the county.
Term: 3 years

Time Commitment: 2 to 3 hours per month

Meetings: Fourth Wednesday, 9:00 am to 11:00 am
Contact: Aika Fallstrom, 503-846-4576

Description: The Civil Service Commission is comprised of five volunteers, one from each of the Commissioner districts, who provide a third-party review of the County's employment practices. The Civil Service Commission is the appeal board for Washington County employees and candidates for employment. Employees and candidates for employment may appeal to the Civil Service Commission adverse personnel management decisions such as appointments, disciplinary actions and classification allocations. The Commission hears and decides appeals by employees and candidates for employment.
Member Description: Five members who are registered voters within the county. No member of the Commission shall be a member of the governing body or an employee of the County or Clean Water Services except that any Commissioner may serve as a member of any other civil service commission.
Term: 2 years

Time Commitment: Quarterly meetings, others as necessary

Contact: Eva LaBonte, 503-846-4476

Description: The Columbia-Pacific Economic Development District (Col-Pac) is a private non-profit organization established to assist in diversifying and strengthening the economy and livability of Northwest Oregon. The District covers all of Clatsop, Columbia, and Tillamook counties and the western part of Washington County (including Banks, Cornelius, Forest Grove, Gaston, and North Plains).

As an economic development district, Col-Pac provides capacity building, coordination and establishment of basic economic development foundation building tools for NW Oregon.
Member Description: Governed by a 17-member volunteer Board of Directors, Col-Pac consists of local public and private leaders including representatives from county commissions, cities, ports, the private sector, workforce, and the minority community. Col-Pac also has a seven-member Loan Administration Board that oversees the District's Revolving Loan Fund.
Term: 2 years

Meetings: March of each year
Contact: Sia Lindstrom, 503-846-8853

Description: The Council identifies community needs, recommends funding priorities, and helps select and evaluate service providers. The County's emphasis on contracting with community agencies for social services makes the work of this volunteer advisory council critical.
Member Description: Comprised of fifteen members including recipients of service, advocates, professionals in the field, key referral sources, provider representatives, and lay citizens. Members are residents of the county or have work interests in the county.
Term: 3 years

Time Commitment: 2-3 hours per month

Meetings: First Wednesday, 10:00 am
Contact: Colin Fitzgerald, 503-846-3138

Description: The ESPD works with the Sheriff and other officials from the Sheriff's Office to review and offer recommendations regarding the level and type of police service in the ESPD and advises on strategic goals and direction.

Future considerations will be to review long-range opportunities for future enhanced law enforcement and community collaboration.
Member Description: Members of the committee are appointed and serve at the approval of the Sheriff. The Sheriff has the discretion to appoint committee members for additional terms of office.

Committee members shall be residents or business owners of the Enhanced Sheriff's Patrol District.
Term: 3 Years

Meetings: The advisory committee meets the first Wednesday every other month.

Next meeting is January 6, 2021.
Contact: Lori Larson, 503-846-2694

Description: Providing affordable housing in Washington County is a formidable job. It is the mission of the HAC to advise the Housing Authority Board of Directors on housing goals policies, to review and recommend actions on the budgets of the Housing Authority, to advise regarding the community’s needs for low-income housing, and to recommend resources and programs available to address those needs.

Member Description: Fifteen members representing various groups, to include:

• Two (2) Members being assisted by the Housing Authority;

• One (1) Member involved in the Finance profession;

• One (1) Member representative of the Elderly;

• One (1) Member representative of Minority Groups;

• One (1) Member drawn from officials of Social Service organizations;

• One (1) Member drawn from either Design/Architectural/Engineer professions;

• One (1) Member drawn from Real Estate/Development/Construction;

• One (1) Member involved in Urban and Regional Planning;

• One (1) Member involved in Property Management;

• One (1) Member representing Veterans; and

• Four (4) Members at large.

Term: 4 Years

Time Commitment: 2 hours (minimum) each month

Meetings: Fourth Thursday at 9:00 a.m.
Contact: Melisa Dailey, 503-846-4773

Description: Maintains a proud tradition of overseeing the only park in the County supported through a Local Improvement District. The Board plans and helps with park maintenance needs, deals with the administrative issues involved in running an active urban park.
Member Description: Nine members (seven regular and two alternates) who own property within the Metzger Park Local Improvement District.
Term: 3 years

Time Commitment: 1-2 hours per month, 4 times per year

Meetings: Fourth Monday at 7:00 p.m.
Contact: Carl Switzer, 503-846-7001

Description: Reviews the proposed budget developed for the North Bethany County Service District for Roads in unincorporated Washington County.
Member Description: The Board of Commissioners plus five residents of the county. The five residents must live in the North Bethany CSDR.
Term: 3 years

Time Commitment: Approximately two three-hour meetings every May that total 6 hours; additional meetings may be added.

Meetings: One three-hour evening meeting the second week in May to receive the proposed budget; staff does an overview of the budget via a PowerPoint presentation. The start time is 5:30 p.m., presentations from the Sheriff's Office and Land Use & Transportation are given. The second meeting is a public hearing on a Thursday evening two weeks after the first meetings. This meeting typically takes the better part of three hours and there is a time certain at 7:00 p.m. when the public can testify. Upon completion of the staff presentations and any public testimony, the Budget Committee is asked to consider approving the proposed budget. There are some years when additional meeting(s) with the Budget Committee take place prior to the May meetings. These meetings are publicly noticed.
Contact: Jack Liang, 503-846-8756

Description: NWACT is an advisory body chartered by the Oregon Transportation Commission and addresses all aspects of transportation (surface, marine, air, and transportation safety) with primary focus on the state transportation system. NWACT: considers regional and local transportation issues in northwest Oregon that affect the state system; plays a key advisory role in the development of the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), which schedules funded transportation projects; and establishes a public process for area project selection priorities for the STIP. Through that process, they prioritize transportation problems and solutions and recommend projects in their area to be included in the STIP. Boundaries include: The entirety of Columbia, Clatsop and Tillamook counties and the western portion of Washington County including the cities of Banks and Gaston. The Washington County area includes Highway 47 to the southern city limits of Gaston excluding the city of Forest Grove, the east on US 26 and including the Dersham Rd interchange.
Member Description: Two Citizen-At-Large representing western Washington County (including Banks and Gaston), selected by the county’s commissioners. Members are non-elected citizens selected from private interests including but not limited to freight, trucking, bicycle, pedestrian, public transportation system, public interest advocacy groups, environmental, land use, local citizens, business, education, minority organizations, public safety providers, non-profit organizations, etc.
Term and Time Commitment: 2 years; 1 to 2 hours per month

Meetings: Fourth Monday, 7:00 p.m.
Contact: Sia Lindstrom, 503-846-8853

Description: Provides advice on the maintenance, operations, and capital development needs of County parks, including Scoggins Valley Park / Henry Hagg Lake.
Member Description: Nine members who are residents of the county. Traditionally members appointed from all Commissioner districts.
Term: 3 years

Time Commitment: 2 to 3 hours, 6 times per year

Meetings: Third Thursday, 7:00 p.m.
Contact: Carl Switzer, 503-846-7001

Description: The Washington County Public Health Advisory Council (PHAC) has been appointed by the Washington County Board of Commissioners to fulfill any federal and state-mandated responsibilities and to advise the Board of Commissioners in its role as the Board of Health for Washington County. The Washington County Public Health Advisory Council will make recommendations to the Board of Commissioners and the Public Health Division Manager to improve the health and well-being of everyone in Washington County.
Member Description: The Council shall consist of a minimum of 15 and a maximum of 17 members representing many dimensions of the community and one non-appointed, non-voting position from the Washington County Board of Commissioners. The Public Health Advisory Council membership will seek to represent the whole community; members of communities that experience health and social inequities will be given preference for membership on the Council.
Term and Time Commitment: 4 years; 2 hours monthly

Meetings: At least 10 times annually; on the second Tuesday of each month from 5:30-7:30
Contact: Vivianna Lindley, 503-846-8246

Description: A coordinated countywide program intended to ensure the safe, economical and efficient collection, storage, transportation and disposal of garbage and recycling, and to ensure adequate standards of service for the garbage and recycling system. To assist the Board in achieving these objectives, the Board has appointed this advisory committee to make recommendations on garbage and recycling decisions and programs that impact all users of the garbage and recycling system.
Member Description: Ten members including: six members representing the public, three members representing the solid waste industry, and one representative of the County's Department Health and Human Services (a non-voting committee member).
Term: 5 years

Time Commitment: 2 to 3 hours per month

Meetings: Second Thursday, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Contact: Tom Egleston, 503-846-3665

Description: Reviews the proposed County budget submitted by the budget officer each fiscal year.
Member Description: Board of Commissioners plus five residents of the county. Each Commissioner/district is allocated an appointment; however the representative does not need to reside in the Commissioner's district.
Term: 3 years

Time Commitment: Approximately two three-hour meetings every May that total 6 hours; additional meetings may be added.

Meetings: One three-hour evening meeting the second week in May to receive the proposed budget; staff does an overview of the budget via a PowerPoint presentation. The start time is 5:30 p.m., presentations from the Sheriff's Office and Land Use & Transportation are given. The second meeting is a public hearing on a Thursday evening two weeks after the first meetings. This meeting typically takes the better part of three hours and there is a time certain at 7:00 p.m. when the public can testify. Upon completion of the staff presentations and any public testimony, the Budget Committee is asked to consider approving the proposed budget. There are some years when additional meeting(s) with the Budget Committee take place prior to the May meetings. These meetings are publicly noticed.
Contact: Jack Liang, 503-846-8756

Description: Advises on library policy in matters of hiring, budget, materials selection, hours of service. Assists with fundraising and volunteer program.
Member Description: Five members who are registered users of the West Slope Library.
Term: 3 years

Meetings: 6 times per year: third Thursday of every other month, 5:00 - 6:30 p.m.
Contact: Kristen Thorp, 503-292-6416

The application deadline is February 16, 2021 or open until filled. Applications may be obtained by visiting the Boards and Commissions website .

Media Contact:

Tricia Kennedy, Senior Administrative Specialist
503-846-6288
[email protected]