City delays vote on board appointments

The Porterville City Council has delayed a vote that would define how applicants are selected for the city’s several advisory boards.

An appointment policy was going to be considered Tuesday night by council members at their regular meeting. The council, however, wanted Councilman Pete “Pedro” Martinez to be present for the decision.

Martinez was absent from Tuesday’s meeting due to his employment.

A vote is rescheduled for Dec. 1.

The idea to formulate guidelines follows contention centered on a council decision to pull the names of nominees for the Library Board of Trustees and the Parks & Leisure Commission out of a hat on Oct. 20. Four names were in the hat for the library board, and three were drawn. Ten names were in the hat for the park commission, and five were selected.

Leaving selection to chance, the council aimed to rid any favoritism or bias.

At the Nov. 3 city council meeting, Mayor Pete McCracken voiced concerned that a lottery system was not a fair approach. He proposed they enforce a tight deadline for when applications can be submitted, dissolve council members’ ability to vote against an applicant, and cast individual votes on paper that would be read aloud and displayed.

It was during that meeting that Martinez suggested the city’s law books be amended via a public ballot.

The decision to postpone the vote was unanimous.

“I don’t think it really needs a charter amendment,” councilman Cameron Hamilton said.

Contact Jenna Chandler at 784-5000, Ext. 1050, or jchandler@portervillerecorder.com.