Lansing residents wishing to work within the city government are being encouraged to apply for vacancies on various boards and commissions, Lansing officials said.
Carol Wood, council member at-large, said city council is at a loss without boards and commissions being filled.
“We realize everyone is busy with families,” said Wood. “We just need someone to devote a little bit of their time to city council.”
The city advisory board and commission positions available are on the planning board, the board of zoning appeals, the historic district commission and the traffic board.
The boards and commissions are part-time, volunteer positions that are meant to give a voice in the city government for Lansing citizens.
“Members are allowed to have input to whether a stop sign should be installed to making a new playground,” Wood said.
Citizens who would like to serve on the boards and commissions should pick one that interests them and fits in their schedule, Wood said.
Alisande Henry, administrative assistant to Lansing Mayor David Hollister, said the boards and commissions are mostly full.
“We just have a few openings and wanted to inform the public,” she said.
But Freddie Thomas, special assistant to the mayor, said there has been a decline in representation of the city boards and commissions over the past three years. He said it is critical that the positions are filled.
He said it is difficult to pass policies without having full input from the boards and commissions.
“Without having the input of boards to give us feedback, we cannot make informed decisions,” he said.
Thomas said the council is looking for citizens who are able to devote some time to the board.
“Mainly, we are looking for people that have dedication and can think through the big picture and see the vision of the city,” he said.
All applicants must be registered to vote in Lansing, have lived in Lansing for at least one year, have no city debts, felonies or election law violations, be nominated by the mayor and approved by the city council.
