19 - BOARD & COMMISSION REVISIONS & ENHANCEMENTS

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COMMITTEES, BOARDS, & COMMISSIONS The Paris City Council may create committees, boards and commissions to assist in city government, by performing such duties as the City Council may specify, not inconsistent with the city charter and Texas statutes. The work done by citizens serving on boards and commissions is a vital part of the work of the city. Such individuals provide time, expertise, experience and unique perspectives that might otherwise be lacking should the city rely strictly on its appointed and elected officials or its consultants. Paris generally has four types of boards and commissions: (1) advisory, (2) decision - making, (3) separate entity, and (4) ad -hoc. (1) Advisory boards and commissions advise the city council on public policy. They play a very important role in city government by providing the council with creative ideas and feedback from the community, and by serving as a sounding board for proposed public policy. The role of advisory boards and commissions is not to make policy, nor do they have any legal authority. Examples of citizen advisory boards and commissions include the Library Advisory Board, Planning and Zoning Commission, and Traffic Commission. (2) Decision - making boards and commissions also serve as advisory groups to the council, but they also have quasi - judicial authority, and often have a basis in state law. Decision - making boards and commissions set or enforce policy and make legally binding decisions. The ordinances creating decision - making boards often require members to have expertise in certain areas. Examples of decision - making boards and commissions include the Building Standards Commission, Historic Preservation Commission, and the Board of Adjustment. (3) Separate entity boards and commissions are actually separate legal entities apart from the city. However, they may receive a significant portion of their funding from the city and /or the city appoints some or all of its members. The members of these boards usually oversee an operation or organization much as would a board of directors. Examples of separate entity boards are the Paris Economic Development Corporation and the Paris -Lamar County Health District. (4) Ad -hoc committees, boards, and commissions are created periodically to address specific needs or concerns for a limited period of time. They are almost always strictly advisory in nature. Examples include the Lake Crook Park Advisory Committee, charter committees, and the Capital Improvements Committee. The city council shall have the authority to create ad -hoc committees and to appoint members thereto with a simple majority vote.