Algood To Consider Term Limits For BZA, Planning Commission

Algood City Council will consider new term limits for those serving on the Board of Zoning Appeals and the Municipal Planning Commission.

City Manager Keith Morrison said that the limits would be six consecutive years for those on the BZA and eight consecutive years for those on the Planning Commission.

“A council member just requested that there be term limits and so we’re just setting term limits,” Morrison said. “You know we wanted to see changes in faces and have everybody an opportunity to serve if they wanted to.”

Morrison said that the planning commission did not provide a recommendation for how to apply the term limits. He said that the city council can take these changes and apply them as renewals come through. Morrison said that there are two terms expiring on the BZA, but neither of the people serving those terms has served for a six-year consecutive term.

Mayor Lisa Chapman Fowler said that while it’s a good idea, it could also present an issue for the city.

“And there may be a bunch of people out there wanting to serve,” Fowler said. “But sometimes we have a problem getting people to serve on the Board of Zoning Appeals. I’m not advocating that we just keep the same ones over and over, I’m just wanting everyone to be aware that sometimes it is difficult. We’re going to face that on to the agenda trying to get this community together for the branding that we’re trying to do, and I can sit down and give you a list of 12, 15, 20 names, which I think have (…) But I don’t know if any of those people are willing to serve.”

Councilmember Ron Graves said that it’s important to get new faces involved with the community.

“I guess I think this is needed,” Graves said. “I don’t personally feel that anyone should be appointed to a board and just serve an indefinite time and just keep staying year after year,” Graves said. “We need to have some new faces, a new opportunity.”

City Council will consider the idea at its Tuesday meeting.