The City of Greensboro regularly releases a list of council-appointed boards and commissions with openings. It also instructs people who are interested in serving on a board or commission how to apply, but it’s a little disingenuous because it is far more complicated to get appointed than the notice implies.
The Greensboro City Council makes those appointments, and the goal of the City Council is to have the same number of people from each of the five City Council districts on each board or commission. Since there are five council districts and the vast majority of boards and commissions have nine members, it’s an impossible task made more difficult because each member of the City Council has one appointment to most of the boards and commissions.
So if there is an opening, for instance on the Parks and Recreation Commission, and you would love to be involved, but you live in District 4 and the opening is for someone from District 1, you have very little chance of getting that appointment even if you have experience or a relevant degree.
The mayor and the three at-large councilmembers can appoint people from anywhere in the city, but usually try to conform to the geographic mix. And it’s a good thing that the City Council doesn’t hold itself to the same standard. District 4 has three representatives on the City Council. District 3 and District 2 have two. District 1 and District 5 only have one.
But if you believe that you can win the district lottery and get appointed to a board or commission, here is the list of the ones that have openings:
Bryan Park Golf Commission
Guilford County/City Insurance Advisory Committee
Guilford County Historic Preservation Commission
Greensboro Criminal Justice Advisory Commission
Greensboro Guilford County Tourism Development Authority
Greensboro Historic Preservation Commission
Greensboro Housing Authority
Greensboro Parks and Recreation Commission
Greensboro Public Library Board of Trustees
Greensboro Transit Advisory Commission
Human Relations Commission
Minimum Housing Standards Commission
Participatory Budgeting
Planning Board
Redevelopment Commission
Solid Waste Management Commission
War Memorial Commission
