Jun 10, 2025 Committee on Appointments Meeting

GOOD MORNING. IT'S 8 A.M.. WE WILL CALL THE COMMITTEE ON APPOINTMENTS TO ORDER.

[00:00:06]

SO WE HAVE A FEW THINGS ON THE DOCKET TODAY, STARTING WITH THE FIRST ONE HERE, WHICH IS A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING COMMISSIONER KILGORE'S

[1. Resolution recognizing Commissioner Kilgore's appointment of Sherlynn James to the Public Safety Committee.]

SO MOVED SUPPORT, MOVED AND SUPPORTED ANY CONVERSATION COLLEAGUES ON THIS APPOINTMENT? ANY COMMENTS? YES. IS THIS ROBIN? IS THIS THE INDIVIDUAL THAT WE CHATTED ABOUT AT A PREVIOUS MEETING, OR IS THIS A DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT INDIVIDUAL? NO, THIS IS A DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT INDIVIDUAL. AND I HAVE A FEW COMMENTS TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION. SURE. LYNN JAMES IS A NEIGHBOR IN THE THIRD WARD.

I AM VERY EXCITED TO. SINCE WE CAME TO THE CONCLUSION OF LAST MEETING OF, WE DIDN'T NECESSARILY WANT AS A MEMBER OF THE ACLU WHO ACTIVELY HAS PENDING LITIGATION WITH US IN THE COURTS. I MOVED TO FIND ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS A BEAUTIFUL WORK, HISTORY AND BACKGROUND HERE IN THE THIRD WARD.

MISS SHERLYN JAMES IS AN ARMY VETERAN WHO HAS ALSO SERVED OUR NATION AND OUR COMMUNITY, AND IS A MOTHER AS WELL AND WILL BE A BEAUTIFUL ADDITION TO THIS COMMITTEE AS WE HAVE NO WOMEN RIGHT NOW ON OUR COMMITTEE AND IN TERMS OF SAFETY, GENDER AND DIFFERENT EXPRESSIONS ARE VERY IMPORTANT ON ALL OF OUR COMMITTEES.

SO I BELIEVE THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL ADDITION. AS SOMEONE WHO HAS SERVED OUR NATION AND HAS THAT ASPECT, AS YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER ROBINS IS SERVING OUR NATION AS WELL.

SO DIFFERENT APPOINTMENT WITH A DIFFERENT BACKGROUND AND DIFFERENT ASPECTS AND INSIGHT THAT SHE WILL BE BRINGING TO THIS COMMITTEE.

AND I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT. AWESOME. YES. THANK YOU.

GOOD QUESTION. YEAH, SORRY I COULDN'T REMEMBER THE NAME FROM THE PREVIOUS CONVERSATION, SO I WAS TRYING TO TIE THE DOTS THERE. BUT DIFFERENT PERSON? YES. OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. YEAH. I WANTED YOU TO SAY YOUR THOUGHTS FIRST.

THANK YOU. BUT I, I DO KNOW MISS JAMES, AND I THINK THAT SHE'LL BRING A GOOD PERSPECTIVE TO THE BODY.

SHE'S VERY COMMITTED. BUT NOT OVEREXTENDED. THAT'S WHAT I WORRY ABOUT SOMETIMES IS LIKE.

THAT'S RIGHT. BUT SHE'S. I THINK SHE'S YOU KNOW, SHE HAS YOUNG CHILDREN AS WELL.

AND SO I THINK THAT PERSPECTIVE IS, IS NEEDED.

SO I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS APPOINTMENT. WONDERFUL.

OKAY, LET'S CALL THE VOTE HERE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.

AYE AYE AYE. THOSE OPPOSED IT CARRIES. THAT LEADS US TO OUR SECOND RESOLUTION APPROVING THE CITY COMMISSION'S APPOINTMENT OF MICHELLE EDDY TO THE

[2. Resolution approving the City Commission's appointment of Michelle Eddie to the Kent Hospital Finance Authority.]

OH, THERE WE ARE. ANY CONVERSATION ON THIS APPOINTMENT, MR. CHAIR? YES, COMMISSIONER. I'LL JUST ADD THAT THIS IS A TYPICAL APPOINTMENT OF SOMEBODY WHO SERVES IN THE HUMAN RESOURCES OR LEGAL AND RISK AREA.

SO WITH THE DEPARTURE OF MISS RANDY BOWERS PAYNE, OUR ASSISTANT HR DIRECTOR, MICHELLE EDDIE IS HAS AGREED AND I THINK WILL BE A GOOD ADDITION TO THIS BODY AS WELL. IT DOESN'T MEAN ON A REGULAR BASIS, BUT IT IS AN IMPORTANT BODY.

SO I'M HAPPY THAT SHE'LL SERVE. AND MY COMMENT IS MISS BAKER HAS BEEN DOING HER DUE DILIGENCE AND REALLY MAKING SURE WE FILL ALL THE VACANCIES WE HAVE. I'M ALWAYS JUST DEEPLY THANKFUL FOR THE DEDICATED CITY STAFF WE HAVE.

SO THANK YOU ALL WHO ARE ON THIS DAIS AND WHO WORK EVERY DAY FOR THE CITY, AND ALSO DEEPLY THANKFUL FOR COMMISSIONER S.A.C.

FOR BEING THE MOST SENIOR MEMBER WHO HAS THIS HISTORY.

AND THAT WAS A QUICK, ALMOST AN INSTANT RESPONSE BACK OF WHO COULD FILL THIS ROLE AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

SO DEEPLY HAPPY TO ALSO SUPPORT THIS APPOINTMENT.

SO LET'S CALL A VOTE HERE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.

AYE AYE. THOSE OPPOSED. IT CARRIES. THAT MOVES US TO OUR THIRD RESOLUTION CONFIRMING MAYOR LEGRAND'S APPOINTMENT OF CHRISTINA VAN DAM TO THE

[3. Resolution confirming Mayor LaGrand's appointment of Christina Vandam to the North Quarter Corridor Improvement Authority]

SO MOVED SUPPORT. ALL RIGHT. ANY CONVERSATION ON THAT APPOINTMENT? MISTER CHAIR. COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU. MISS VAN DAM IS A BUSINESS OWNER AND HAS HAD OVER THE LAST YEAR HAD PURCHASED A SOME PROPERTY IN THE SECOND WARD.

AND SO SHE'S THE OWNER OF AERIAL FITNESS, AND WE HAD A COUPLE OF OPENINGS, SO IT'D BE GREAT TO JUST GET SOME MORE PEOPLE ADDED THERE.

THIS BODY IS ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN A NUMBER OF, OF ITEMS IN THE CORRIDOR, INCLUDING SUPPORTING THE CRESTON FARMER'S MARKET THAT JUST OPENED THIS PAST WEEK AND WILL BE OPEN FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.

SO I'M GLAD TO TO HAVE ANOTHER PERSON FILL IN THE SPOT.

AWESOME. ALL RIGHT. LET'S CALL THE VOTE HERE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE AYE AYE. THOSE OPPOSED IT CARRIES.

HERE IS OUR LAST RESOLUTION CONFIRMING MAYOR LEGRAND'S APPOINTMENT OF PATRICK HILTON TO THE MICHIGAN STREET CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY.

[4. Resolution confirming Mayor LaGrand's appointment of Patrick Hilton to the Michigan Street Corridor Improvement Authority]

[00:05:08]

OKAY, I'LL CALL THE VOTE IN. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE AYE AYE. THOSE OPPOSED. IT CARRIES. NOW LET'S HAVE A DISCUSSION ON OUR CURRENT BOARD AND COMMISSION VACANCIES.

[5. Discussion on the current Board and Commission Vacancy List - June 10, 2025]

WE HAVE A COUPLE RESIGNATIONS FROM UPTOWN CIA AND BID.

AND THEN THE SMART ZONE. LISA FREIBURGER RESIGNED FROM GRCC AND IS LEAVING THE SMART ZONE.

BUT THERE IS ALREADY A REPLACEMENT IN THE WORKS THAT SHOULD HAPPEN AT THE NEXT MEETING FOR THAT BOARD.

AND I WILL START WORKING WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT ON FILLING UP THE UPTOWN VACANCIES.

YEAH. WE ARE ALSO ACTIVELY WORKING ON THE LAND BANK AUTHORITY, WHICH I KNOW THAT WE I'VE KIND OF BEEN KEEPING YOU ALL UPDATED WITH THE APPLICATIONS AS THEY COME IN. I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT IF WE CONTINUE TO HAVE APPLICATIONS TRICKLE IN, THEY CAN BE REVIEWED AND WE SHOULD HOPEFULLY BE ABLE TO HAVE ENOUGH APPOINTMENTS AT THE MEETING IN JULY TO HAVE A FUNCTIONING BOARD.

WHILE WE FILL IN THE GAPS. YEAH. THIS IS DEEPLY IMPORTANT FOR COMMUNITY.

THIS IS A INNOVATIVE, IN MY OPINION, TRANSFORMATIONAL TOOL THAT WE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT IN THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.

AND I'D JUST LIKE TO YOU KNOW, REMIND THE PUBLIC AND MYSELF.

RIGHT. THESE ARE MAYORAL APPOINTMENTS. SO THE MAYOR WILL BE WORKING ON THESE, AND THESE WILL HOPEFULLY, LIKE YOU'RE SAYING, WE'LL HAVE SOME OF THOSE BEFORE US IN JULY. YOU BELIEVE? HOPEFULLY. I KNOW THAT THERE ARE AT LEAST A COUPLE THAT I THINK ARE A.

YES. OKAY. BUT WE I BELIEVE THERE WOULD NEED TO BE THE MINIMUM FOR A QUORUM.

I BELIEVE. WONDERFUL. COMMISSIONER CAC SERVING ON THE BROWNFIELD, I'M SURE WOULD HAVE MORE TO SAY, AND I THINK THAT'S ALSO TO BE DISCUSSED LATER TODAY.

YES YES, YES. THANK YOU. ANY CONVERSATION ON THAT? YES, COMMISSIONER. MISTER CHAIR. AND THANKS, MISS BHASKER.

FOR BROWNFIELD, WE DO HAVE ONE NAME THAT'S IN FRONT OF THE MAYOR.

I THINK IT WAS JUST A TIMING PIECE, SO I HOPE THAT CAN BE APPROVED.

GIVE HIS PRE-APPROVAL AND COME TO OUR FIRST MEETING IN JULY, WHICH WILL BE JULY 17TH, I BELIEVE.

IS THAT TRUE? 15TH. OKAY. THAT LEAVES US AT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITH TWO POSITIONS.

WHY THAT'S IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE THAT BODY IS CURRENTLY SERVING AS THE LAND BANK AUTHORITY. JUST AS A REMINDER TO EVERYBODY OR ANYBODY WHO MIGHT BE WATCHING. AND I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE QUEUE FOR FOR BROWNFIELD AS WELL, BECAUSE EITHER WAY, WE'LL NEED TO FILL THE OTHER TWO. AND THEN FOR LAND BANK, I WOULD JUST REMIND US ALL YOU KNOW, I KNOW, I KNOW, WE TALKED ACTIVELY AND THE MAYOR WAS SUPPORTIVE OF EACH ONE OF US, OF OUR WARDS, WORDS, OF HAVING A RECOMMENDATION TO SERVE ON THE BODY AS WELL.

I HAVE SOME OTHER THOUGHTS TOO. OF OF INDIVIDUALS.

IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE FROM YOUR WARD, BUT SOMEBODY THAT YOU WOULD WANT THAT WOULD BE REPRESENTATIVE. I THINK THE THERE IS NO RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT ON THE LAND BANK, I DON'T BELIEVE.

BUT OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO, I THINK, HAVE A REFLECTION OF GRAND RAPIDS RESIDENTS OR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THE WORK IN GRAND RAPIDS. SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'LL FOLLOW UP.

AND, COMMISSIONER ROBINS, PERHAPS I COULD TALK TO YOU AND, AND COMMISSIONER BOUCEK ABOUT SOME THOUGHTS IN THE FIRST WORD.

OR MAYBE THEY END UP BEING MY APPOINTMENT. BUT YES, I THINK THAT IF WE CAN STAY ON TOP OF THIS ONE, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. AND THEN WE'LL BACKFILL THOSE BROWNFIELD ONES. CAN WE GO BACK UP TO THE PLANNING? SO PLANNING HAS ONE RIGHT NOW RIGHT.

YES. PLANNING ALSO DOES HAVE ALTERNATES THAT CAN FILL IN.

SO THERE'S ON THIS BODY THERE ARE ALSO TWO ALTERNATES, I BELIEVE.

CITY CLERK. SO THAT CAN HELP TO FILL IN. BUT EVEN SOMETIMES THE ALTERNATES HAVE A HARD TIME COMING TO.

JUST BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT ROLES. I THINK THE ALTERNATIVES ARE ONLY ON ZEBA. ONLY ON ZEBA.

WE DON'T HAVE THEM ON PLANNING. OH, I DON'T THINK SO. OH, I ALTERNATE ON THE THE VISA.

BUT NOT PLANNING. NOT ON PLANNING. OKAY. MY HUSBAND WAS ON.

AND SO I'M GETTING. I'M CONFUSED. THE MAYOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER. THE MAYOR IS ACTIVELY REVIEWING AND THINKING OF OF SOMEONE TO FILL THAT POSITION. OKAY. I'M PLANNING. WE DID HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AS THE MAYOR AND I ARE TALKING SINCE, AS WE KNOW, THE MAJORITY OF THESE APPOINTMENTS ARE MAYORAL AND JUST TRYING TO CHANGE AND BE VERY INTENTIONAL RIGHT, ABOUT THESE POSITIONS, ESPECIALLY ALL OF THESE COMMITTEES AND BOARDS THAT ARE DEEPLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR CITY.

BUT SOME OF THEM HAVE MORE DECISION MAKING POWER, LIKE THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

SO WE REALLY WANT TO BE INTENTIONAL, IN ADDITION TO SPEAK TO THE LAND BANK, COMMISSIONER PERDUE, MY COLLEAGUE IN THE THIRD WARD, AND I HAVE SPOKEN AND HAVE ACTIVELY BEEN THINKING OF WHO WE WOULD RECOMMEND TO THE MAYOR.

WE LIKE WE DISCUSSED FOR MANY OF OUR BOARDS WHAT WHAT'S MISSING?

[00:10:04]

WE HEARD THAT FROM THE CURRENT BROWNFIELD AUTHORITY BOARD BROWNFIELD.

AND WE WANT TO UPLIFT THAT. SO THAT'S WHERE OUR RECOMMENDATION IS COMING FROM.

JUST FOR MY COLLEAGUES, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING WITH YOUR OTHER COMMISSIONERS.

THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT. RIGHT. SO MAYBE WE COULD THINK LIKE THAT.

AND ONCE AGAIN, BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT WHAT WE'D LIKE TO BRING TO THAT BOARD.

SO THAT'S GREAT. I KNOW WE WANT TO DISCUSS THAT.

AND THEN LASTLY, IF WE CAN QUICKLY, I'D LIKE TO UPLIFT A CHANGE TO OUR POSSIBLE CHANGE TO OUR APPLICATIONS, IF THAT'S OKAY. MRS. BHASKER, TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

SO IN OUR APPLICATION, THERE'S SEVERAL QUESTIONS, RIGHT.

AND THERE'S BEEN CONVERSATION ABOUT THE MISS BHASKER.

YOU MIGHT SAY THIS BETTER THAN I WILL THE. IN THE PAST TEN YEARS.

HERE WE ARE. THERE IT IS. THANK YOU. IN THE PAST TEN YEARS, HAVE YOU BEEN CONVICTED OF A CRIME INVOLVING THEFT, FRAUD OR OTHER DISHONESTY? SO OTHERS CONVERSATION WITH THE MAYOR AND OTHER COMMISSIONERS ON REMOVING THAT QUESTION.

AND I'D JUST LIKE TO HEAR THE FEEDBACK FROM MY COLLEAGUES ON THIS COMMITTEE OF DO WE THINK THAT THAT IS A QUESTION THAT IS NEEDED, AS SOME MAY THINK, THAT IT WILL DETRACT OR TAKE AWAY FROM FOLKS WHO MAY HAVE TURNED A NEW LEAF, WHO HAVE YOU KNOW, WENT THROUGH ALL LEGAL STEPS TO ATONE FOR WHAT MISTAKES THEY MAY HAVE MADE.

AND DO WE NEED TO INCLUDE THAT, AS IT MAY KEEP SOME FOLKS OUT OF THESE IMPORTANT CITY BOARDS AND COMMITTEES? SO I WOULD JUST LOVE TO HEAR YOUR FEEDBACK ON POSSIBLY CHANGING, ADAPTING THIS PROCESS IN APPLICATION PROCESS.

YES, COMMISSIONER ROBINSON. THANKS, MR. CHAIR, I GUESS A FOLLOW UP QUESTION TO THAT. I GUESS WHAT'S THE PROTOCOL FOR? IF SOMEBODY ANSWERS YES ON THIS QUESTION, IS IT LIKE, IMMEDIATE DISQUALIFY OR IS IT SOMETHING WHERE LIKE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE APPLYING FOR A JOB, SOMETHING COMES UP ON YOUR BACKGROUND CHECK AND YOU KIND OF HAVE A CHANCE TO TALK THROUGH IT AND SORT OF GIVE MORE CONTEXT AS TO WHY YOU ANSWERED YES BEFORE A DECISION IS MADE.

I GUESS I'D BE CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT THAT PROCESS LOOKS LIKE.

IT IS NOT AN IMMEDIATE NO PART OF THE VETTING PROCESS.

THE THREE DEPARTMENTS THAT REVIEW ALL THE APPLICATIONS, TREASURY, INCOME TAX, AND THEN THE LAW DEPARTMENT ALSO DOES.

AND WHAT WOULD BE AN IMMEDIATE KNOW IS IF THE LAW DEPARTMENT FOUND THAT THE APPLICANT HAS CURRENT A CURRENT CASE OR CURRENT LITIGATION LITIGATION WITH THAT INVOLVES THE CITY, SIMILAR TO WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE ACLU SITUATION.

AND EVEN THAT WASN'T AN IMMEDIATE NO, BUT IT WOULD BE AN IMMEDIATE FLAG TO CONSIDER.

I THINK THAT THIS IS MORE INFORMATION JUST TO INCLUDE, LIKE YOU MENTIONED IN EVERYBODY'S REVIEW, THE APPOINTING AUTHORITY TO REVIEW. YOU OKAY? YEAH, THAT'S. THAT'S HELPFUL TO UNDERSTAND, I GUESS. IN MY MIND, IT ALMOST MORE SO.

JUST DEPENDS ON THE NATURE OF WHAT WHY THEY ANSWERED YES.

VERSUS I THINK IT'S, YOU KNOW, IMPORTANT TO MAYBE ASK THAT KIND OF QUESTION.

YOU KNOW, EVEN IF IT WAS, SAY, NINE YEARS AGO, BUT THE THE AMOUNT OF THEFT WAS WAS, YOU KNOW, SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS, I THINK THAT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD WANT TO KNOW. VERSUS IF IT'S, YOU KNOW, MAYBE NINE YEARS AGO AND IT WAS ON A SMALL RETAIL THEFT LIKE YOU MENTIONED, THEY'VE YOU KNOW, DONE WHAT THEY NEED TO MAYBE TURN THEIR LIFE AROUND OR BROUGHT THEMSELVES TO A DIFFERENT PLACE. SO SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I CERTAINLY THINK WE COULD, WE COULD LOOK PAST, BUT I GUESS IN MY MIND, I'D RATHER KEEP THE QUESTION, BUT MAYBE WE COULD JUST BE MORE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT ABOUT THE CONTEXT OF WHATEVER, CAUSE SOMEONE TO ANSWER YES AND KIND OF GO FROM THERE.

SO THAT'S JUST KIND OF MY INITIAL THOUGHTS, BUT CERTAINLY A FAIR QUESTION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER ICAC. THANK YOU.

I'VE ALSO TALKED TO THE CITY ATTORNEY ABOUT THIS. AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK AND TALK TO THE MAYOR AT THE LAST MEETING.

AND I THINK, YES, THERE IS THIS GENERAL SENTIMENT OF HOW DO WE HOW DO WE ALSO MIRROR THIS WITH LIKE OUR EMPLOYMENT APPLICATION BECAUSE THERE IN THE IN THE PAST YEARS WE'VE REALLY DONE A LOT IN THAT SPACE. LIKE THERE'S DIFFERENT CONSIDERATIONS UNLESS YOU HAVE LIKE A SAFETY POSITION WITH INSIDE THE CITY THAT IF YOU DO LIKE REGARDING LIKE DRUG TESTING OTHER PIECES, I KNOW THAT'S MORE BROAD.

WHAT I WOULD SAY IS FROM, YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH THIS IS AN EMPLOYMENT, TYPICALLY WHAT YOU WOULD DO IS YOU WOULD SET A STANDARD AND THEN YOU WOULD EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT WHEN YOU'RE BEING VETTED.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE PAST WE HAVE I CAN THINK OF AT LEAST LAST YEAR WHEN WE MOVED TO INDIVIDUAL, THERE WAS A VERY RECENT FINANCIAL CRIME, AND THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH A BOARD THAT WAS INVOLVED WITH DISTRIBUTING HIGH AMOUNTS OF DOLLARS OUTSIDE OF THE CITY.

SO WE DID MAKE THAT CHANGE. WE ALWAYS TRIED TO EXTEND INDIVIDUALS THEIR ABILITY.

ANYBODY HAS THE ABILITY TO RESIGN FROM A POSITION BEFORE ACTION IS TAKEN BECAUSE WE CAN UNDERSTAND AGAIN, WE LIVE IN A COMMUNITY WHERE, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT SMALL, BUT PEOPLE MAY KNOW EACH OTHER ENOUGH.

[00:15:03]

I WOULD SAY SOMETHING OF ONE. I WOULD THINK IF WE COULD MOVE THIS TO A WORK GROUP.

THIS BODY HAS THE ABILITY TO SET A WORK SESSION, TO DISCUSS THIS MORE BROADLY AND TO GIVE IT THE TIME THAT IT NEEDS, BUT ON SO I'M GENERALLY SUPPORTIVE OF MUCH LIKE A BAN THE BOX, LIKE REMOVING WHATEVER, WHATEVER MIGHT BE LIKE A BARRIER IN THE BEGINNING, BUT ALSO SAY WE WILL ASK YOU THESE QUESTIONS THROUGHOUT THE VETTING PROCESS DEPENDENT UPON THE BOARD.

AND WE WOULD LOOK AT EEOC GUIDELINES TYPICALLY CALL FOR EMPLOYMENT.

YOU WOULD LOOK AT THE LENGTH SINCE THE CONVICTION WHAT WAS THE PERSONAL RECORD SINCE THE CONVICTION? YOU WOULD LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES.

AND SO I THINK THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE WANT TO DO.

BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE THAT THAT COULD BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.

AND, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, TO YOUR POINT, COMMISSIONER, IF IT WAS A FINANCIAL CRIME THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S OBVIOUSLY NOT A LAWYER. WE GOT ONE HERE, BUT ROSE TO DIFFERENT LEVELS.

SEE PATRICK SHAKING HIS HEAD. THEN THAT WOULD BE IT IS TAKEN ON THAT CASE BY CASE BASIS.

AND THEN TO YOUR POINT, MISS OSCAR, CALLING OUT SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER FLAG. SO I'M SUPPORTIVE OF HOW WE MIGHT REMOVE BARRIERS IF PEOPLE SEE THAT, OH MY GOSH, THEY'RE GOING TO ASK. AND THIS IS GOING TO BE NO BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN THAT IN OUR EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES.

BUT THEN ALSO EXPLAINING THIS COULD BE CONSIDERED.

AND IT'S NOT JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE IT IS NOT IMMEDIATE DISQUALIFYING, BUT YOU COULD HAVE IT AND IT MIGHT PREVENT YOU FROM BEING, SAY, ON THIS BOARD. YOU KNOW, TO ME, I THINK THAT THE NEXT QUESTION, YOU KNOW, ASSAULTIVE OR VIOLENT CONTACT IS LIKE ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT HOW PEOPLE CAN FEEL SAFE IN SPACES. AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK ABOUT THIS PROBABLY NOT IN THE CITY, BUT PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIKE, MAYBE OPTED OUT OF THINGS BECAUSE OF DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS.

SO ANYWAYS I MIGHT SUGGEST A WORK SESSION AND INCLUDE, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WE'VE GOT OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, BUT INCLUDE ANY OTHER PIECES. WE COULD ALSO DO SOME COMPARISONS WITH OUR EMPLOYMENT APPLICATION.

THANKS. THIS IS REALLY GOOD FEEDBACK. YES. YEAH.

NO THANKS. I THINK THAT'S A GREAT POINT TOO, I WONDER.

MAYBE JUST AT THE VERY MINIMUM. IN THE MEANTIME, IF THERE WAS SOME SORT OF LANGUAGE WE COULD ADD TO THE APPLICATION. JUST SAYING. LIKE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU ANSWER YES ON THIS QUESTION, IT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S AN IMMEDIATE DISQUALIFICATION, BUT IT'S JUST SOME SORT OF LIKE YOU KNOW, WE'LL BASED ON THE NATURE OF THE BOARD. AND IN THE MEANTIME, WE'LL, WE'LL ASK SOME QUESTIONS AND GET INVOLVED JUST TO UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT OF WHY YOU ANSWERED. YES, BUT JUST CLARIFYING THAT IT'S NOT A BARRIER THAT'S GOING TO PREVENT SOMEONE FROM SERVING IF THEY IF THEY DO HAVE TO ANSWER YES. SO THAT'S ALSO AN OPTION WE CAN DO IN THE MEANTIME. GREAT, GREAT. YES. MR. COOK. YEAH. HOW MANY OF THESE PDFS DO WE HAVE THAT PEOPLE, MARK? YES, ON THE BOXES, I GUESS. WHAT WHAT SIZE ISSUE ARE WE LOOKING AT HERE? NOT MANY. NOT MANY. YEAH. GO AHEAD COMMISSIONER, I THINK THAT'S I THINK THAT'S FAIR.

BUT I ALSO THINK IT'S NOT THAT'S NOT REALLY WHAT WE'RE JUDGING.

WE'RE JUDGING PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NOT FILL IT OUT BECAUSE THEY SEE IT.

RIGHT. YOU KNOW, SO I THINK WE DON'T REALLY HAVE LIKE THE POOL.

SO I WOULD SAY SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID ON THE EMPLOYMENT SIDE, I THINK WAS FOR THAT REASON.

SO I MEAN, THAT WAS THAT WAS LIKE UNDER MARY BETH.

SO THIS WAS A LONG TIME AGO. THIS WAS A COUPLE OF HR DIRECTORS AGO.

PATRICK, YOU REMEMBERING ALL THIS? SO YOU'VE BEEN YOU'VE BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME? YEAH. SO I WONDER THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. I THINK WE HAVE SOME ABILITY TO MIRROR WHAT WE DID ON.

AND TO ME, IF WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT EMPLOYMENT IN GRAND RAPIDS AND WE HAVE REMOVED CERTAIN LANGUAGE, WHY WOULDN'T WE MIRROR THAT IN THE SERVICE? BECAUSE THAT'S OBVIOUSLY LESS OF A RELATIONSHIP.

SHOULD, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE GIVING A PAYCHECK. SO YEAH, THAT'S MY SUGGESTION.

THAT WAS GREAT FEEDBACK COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND MISS BHASKER AGAIN. SO I LIKE OF COURSE, THE MORE IT'S JUST LIKE WHEN WE WE NOW KNOW THAT WE CONVENE LIKE A SPECIAL WORK GROUP FOR WHEN WE HAVE THE CITY COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS.

AND THEN WE BRING THAT TO THIS BODY AND THEN IT GOES FORTH TO THE CITY COMMISSION.

I BELIEVE I WOULD AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER S.A.C.

AND DOING THE SAME THING WITH THIS WHERE WE CHAT MORE ABOUT THAT AND THEN BRING IT BECAUSE I BELIEVE WHEN WE DISCUSSED WE DON'T NEED A FORMAL VOTE ON THE CITY COMMISSION TO CHANGE THIS POLICY. I HAVE TO CHANGE THE APPLICATION THAT CAN BE DONE ADMINISTRATIVELY.

IF WE WERE TO ADDRESS THE POLICY, WRITE IT INTO THE POLICY, WHICH IT'S NOT REALLY IN THE POLICY NOW, BUT IF WE WANTED TO ADJUST THE POLICY AT ALL, THEN THAT WOULD NEED TO GO TO THE WHOLE.

OKAY. THAT'S REALLY GOOD TO KNOW. AND I THINK THAT SETS US UP WELL.

AND THEN LAST BUT NOT LEAST, LET'S CHAT JUST A LITTLE BIT HERE.

THIS IS CRACKING ME UP. THIS IS ABOUT THE LONGEST COMMITTEE ON APPOINTMENTS WE'VE HAD. BUT WE'VE GOT A LOT TO TALK ABOUT. IT'S BEEN A MINUTE. SO LASTLY HERE LET'S CHAT JUST A MOMENT

[6. Discussion on the criteria for appointment to Boards and Commissions]

AND IF YOU COULD JUST GIVE US SOME BACKGROUND AND THEN I'D LOVE TO HEAR IF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY COMMENTS AND FEEDBACK.

YES. THAT BOARD IS. IT HAS. EACH COMMISSIONER HAS ONE APPOINTMENT AND THE MAYOR HAS THREE.

[00:20:06]

I AM GOING TO MEET WITH THEM AT THEIR MEETING NEXT WEEK JUST TO GO OVER THE REAPPOINTMENT PROCESS.

UNDERSTAND ANY DESIRE TO SERVE AGAIN. TO RELATE TO YOU ALL.

BUT EITHER WAY, YOU ALL HAVE AN APPOINTMENT ON THAT BOARD AND WE ARE ANXIOUS TO FILL THAT WITH CURRENT APPOINTMENTS FROM THE CURRENT BODY OF ELECTED OFFICIALS. AND DID YOU GET FEEDBACK FROM THE LIAISON? I DID MEET WITH THE LIAISON. OKAY. OUR MEETING WAS INTERRUPTED BY A FIRE ALARM.

OH, I DID SEE THAT EMAIL. SO IT WAS VERY BRIEF, WHICH IS HOW WE KIND OF SETTLED ON.

I'LL POP INTO THEIR MEETING NEXT WEEK. OKAY. WONDERFUL.

YEAH. JUST TO FACILITATE THE PROCESS AND GET MORE FEEDBACK AS WE THEY ALSO DISCUSSED, I FEEL LIKE, REMEMBER SAYING THAT THEY MAYBE WANT TO STAGGER SO THAT THERE'S SOME HISTORY AND THAT IT'S NOT ALL EVERY ALL NEW PEOPLE PERHAPS.

RIGHT. THERE MAY BE SOME COMMISSIONERS WHO WANT TO REAPPOINT FOLKS, BUT THAT WOULD BE PRETTY, YOU KNOW, A BIGGER CHANGE IF EVERYONE ROLLED OFF AT THE SAME TIME.

RIGHT. THAT IS A CONCERN. MY UNDERSTANDING, THAT'S A CONCERN OF THE BODY, BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF ONBOARDING FOR THAT PARTICULAR BODY.

AND BUT FOR NOW, WE'RE STICKING WITH THE WAY IT IS.

SO ALL THE APPOINTMENTS WOULD EXPIRE IN TWO YEARS.

UNTIL THEY WORK OUT WITH THEIR BOARD RULES AND WHAT HOW THEY WOULD STAGGER OR IF THAT'S A POSSIBILITY.

BUT FOR NOW, THAT'S NOT PART OF THEIR THEIR BYLAWS.

SO WE'RE STICKING WITH THE WAY IT IS. THAT IS ON THE TABLE THOUGH.

AWESOME. WELL, THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW. THAT MEANS, YOU KNOW, MAYBE BY OUR NEXT MEETING IN JULY, WE'LL HAVE MORE FEEDBACK FROM THEM ON HOW THEY'D LIKE TO PROCEED. BUT JUST TO BE KEEPING THAT IN THE BACK OF OUR MIND FOR WHEN THOSE APPOINTMENTS COME UP.

ALL RIGHT. YOU ALL WELL, LIKE I SAID, THIS IS FUNNY THAT 22 MINUTES IS THE LONGEST MEETING I'VE HAD THIS LONG THIS YEAR.

ANY FINAL COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES OR OUR WONDERFUL CITY STAFF? ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE, WE WILL ADJOURN THE COMMITTEE ON APPOINTMENTS AT 8:22 A.M..

HAVE A GREAT MORNING.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.