The Proper Role For Civilian Advisory Boards

Civilian Advisory Boards are an integral part of the City that allows interested and knowledgable citizens a chance to give an opinion on something to the City Commission in a form longer than a 4 minute public comment. Autonomy and independence are necessary and the boards and Commission should not always agree on everything. But a common goal, a better Tarpon Springs for all citizens, should be realized by both parties and each board should have a good understanding of the track we are currently on. In this blog, I will discuss some of the advantages and disadvantages to Civilian Advisory Boards and what we can do as commissioners to ensure they are proper.

Typically, decisions made by the City Commission have many factors ranging from personal opinions, benefits and costs to the City, and public input on the matter. Civilian Advisory Boards are the extra layer between applicants and the City for a reason, and their existence in many cases is imperative. Civilian Advisory Boards provide a different perspective on things, and give the City Commission a recommendation based on that perspective. While the two may not always agree, both should agree more often than not or there is an issue somewhere. Recently, we have had some of those issues here in Tarpon Springs.

While walking business to business addressing their concerns and questions, I was told more than a few times that going in front of the Planning and Zoning Board, in particular, was like “being interrogated by the police.” Now, while it is important to have different opinions and perspectives, every applicant and investor should be treated with the utmost respect. We can hire 15 Economic Development Managers, but if investors feel as though they are being “interrogated” when they are tying to brings dollars and jobs to a community, they will most likely take those dollars elsewhere. This is a very serious issue for a community that has been trying to grow their economy and improve the lives of business owners and citizens alike. So what is the solution?

Every board and every individual should be accountable for their actions, and if they represent the community in a bad light, or are extremely rude to individuals, it must be dealt with. And as a preventative measure, we must be more selective with individuals who are put on the board and ensure all selected individuals are trained properly and kept up to date with the goals of the City. I am not advocating for stacking the board, or anything like that, but making sure individuals are responsible for their actions and maintain a high professional demeanor when dealing with applicants. I think most of us recognize our goal to bring businesses, jobs, and dollars to Tarpon Springs but some of us see different ways in doing it. That is the beauty of Civilian Advisory Boards, but they must share that common goal and the individuals selected must be dedicated, knowledgable, and professional to maintain a positive and welcoming environment for investors.

Tommy Frain is running for Tarpon Springs City Commissioner Seat 4 for the election March 12.

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