Improving Governance

About the Program

Category: County Administration and Management (Best in Category)

Year: 2020

To address the problem of low participation on multiple agency boards and a lack of candidates for new board positions, the Fairfield County Board of Commissioners developed a formalized advertising, recruitment, and evaluation process for board appointees, which included an evaluation of identified qualities for success in serving as a board member. Commissioners and administrators attended multiple follow up meetings to evaluate how board appointees were participating after they were appointed. The formalized process, not required by law or any regulation, resulted in improved board governance and resulted in an increased interest in the public for service on boards. The amount of time a board position is vacant has been reduced from more than a year to three weeks. Board administrators have commented on how the new process has improved outcomes for their organizations.