By Robert Barron, Staff Writer
In an effort to increase efficiency with Enid’s boards and commissions, the city is planning a series of moves to increase communication and streamline the boards’ approach to management.
Abby Woods and Andrie Winters reported during the Enid City Commis-sion study session Tuesday on a study they completed to accomplish a number of goals. Those goals include increasing communication between committees, city staff and city commission; improve operations and completion of assigned tasks of city boards and commissions; and streamline their approach to management and conduct of business.
In the report, the city staff members recommended boards have a mission statement, clear communication with the city commission through reports and presentations and increased accountability. A staff liaison to each committee should provide leadership and guidance and maintain minutes, meeting agendas and financial reports.
The goal of the boards should align with the goals of the city, they said.
Woods and Winters proposed a staff liaison for each board, a contact person who is a non-voting member. That individual would prepare board and committee documents and maintain an up-to-date binder for public view and assure the boards follow the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act and Robert’s Rules of Order, and keep attendance records.
Woods said the purpose is to make the boards more efficient and successful.
“(City Manager) Eric (Benson) appointed us to get the ball rolling and get started. It was very informative and interesting to see what other communities are doing and how to apply it in Enid,” Woods said.
The Enid plan does not follow any particular city, but Woods said they took what they considered good ideas that were the best fit for Enid.
“The purpose is to give them the tools they need to meet their goals,” she said. “We have some very talented and knowledgeable people on those boards, and I’m excited to see what they can do.”
The report said every board and committee member has a valuable contribution to make in working toward the goals of those committees. A part of the plan is to offer a member orientation as needed for new board and committee members, creation of a guidebook for all members that contains the mission statement, purpose and authority and outlines the role of the members. Each member would acknowledge and accept responsibility for his or her appointment.
Winters said the purpose was to help improve the operation so the boards can do more and better projects in the community.
“We looked at our own boards and took what they are doing right and we will utilize that across the board,” she said.
She said the study looked at what each board did well and took those ideas to help improve areas where a board or committee needed assistance.
“We used their strengths to improve weaknesses,” she said.
