Submitted by: Joanne Wasczcak
Submitting Department: Legislative
Agenda Section: Discussion
Item Title:
title
FY23 Budget Initiative: Stipend Program to Diversify Membership of City of Hyattsville Advisory Committees, Boards, Commissions and Task Forces
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Suggested Action:
recommendation
I move that Council create a program to provide stipends to members of City of Hyattsville Advisory Committees, Boards, Commissions and Task Forces with the goal of recruiting and retaining membership that proportionally represents the community.
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Summary Background:
It is critical for the City to find ways to ensure that our Advisory Committees, Boards, Commissions and Task Forces (heretofore called Advisory Bodies) represent the racial, ethnic, economic, gender and age diversity of our community. The City struggles to recruit and retain advisory body membership that proportionally represents the community.
To make it more accessible and affordable for residents to join and participate actively in the City's Advisory Bodies, the City would provide a stipend of $40 per meeting attended per member. Members might use the stipend to offset lost wages when giving up a shift, or to pay for transportation to the meeting, day care or elder care during the meeting, carryout food for their family during the meeting, or other costs they incur as a result of attending the meeting.
The stipend amount is not intended to provide an economic incentive; rather it is intended to reduce an economic barrier to regular, sustained participation in Advisory Bodies. Members would receive the stipend for only those meetings they attended.
City Council has established more than 10 Advisory Bodies to provide recommendations and advice to Council about major issues, challenges and opportunities facing the City. The City of Hyattsville and its residents benefit from the commitment demonstrated by the members of these Advisory Bodies.
Note that this program would not include ...
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