By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
A controversy that arose over the reappointment of a member to the Public Library Board has prompted the St. Joseph City Council to change the process it uses to appoint and reappoint members to boards and commissions.
Grace Calvary Chapel Pastor Josh Blevins raised objections to the reelection of Library Board Vice President Brian Kirk, pastor of the First Christian Church who advocates for the LGBTQ community.
Mayor John Josendale says the policy changes come after hearing from several members of the public.
"The people that are currently up, can be put back up, and there's no one that can't be put up for review and new people can come forward that are interested in serving on that board," Josendale tells host of the KFEQ Hotline Barry Birr. "We're very interested in seeing who will be put up and who is interested in serving in that."
Josendale says it's important for people in the public to get all of the facts on candidates before making a judgment.
Josendale says people should understand Kirk would have no say over library policies on the board.
"The library board is responsible for hiring and firing of the director, and so in a roundabout way you can say anything you want but there is input into that," Josendale explains.
Josendale says the city heard from more than 300 community members on the issue
"And it's important that when people react to or respond to who is being put on a board, or why they're putting on a board, or why they're not being put on a board, it's important to hear all the facts," Josendale says.
Josendale hopes the changes to the process will be more transparent with the public.
"Letting people know whose applying and if they have other people that they want to talk to to encourage to apply, then that would be brought out, I would pick three, we'd bring those up to the council, and then they'd be voted on by the council," Josendale points out.
The new process hopes to make the public more aware of opportunities on boards and commissions in the city.