Another city councilman joined the call to increase the local convention and visitors bureau board to nine members Tuesday.
An amendment to permanently reduce the Columbus Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau Board of Directors to six members passed despite Ward 6 Councilman Bill Gavin reversing his position from the council”s Dec. 21 meeting and supporting the pursuit of a local and private agreement from the state Legislature.
“I”ve had second thoughts. We may want to increase the board back to nine,” said Gavin. “My original consideration was to bring the board in compliance with the law.”
The CVB board currently seats eight members, but nine are specified in the city”s 1986 ordinance establishing the CVB. City Attorney Jeff Turnage informed the council weeks ago of a state statute specifying three appointees be named by each governing body, in this case the city and Lowndes County.
The council voted 5-1 Dec. 21 in favor of permanently reducing the number of appointees to comply with state law. Ward 3 Councilman Charlie Box opposed the vote.
The Lowndes County Board of Supervisors voted to do the same, but only until a local and private agreement can be obtained to return the board to nine members.
The amendment to the ordinance approved Tuesday also stated the council”s intention to appoint all board members at large, which Gavin said he still supports. The county voted to make two industry-specific appointments (a hotel/motel representative and a member recommended by the Columbus Lowndes Development Link) and one at-large appointment.
After approving the contraction of the CVB board, the council voted to advertise and accept applications for the three at-large appointments for 30 days. The chosen applicants will replace the city”s four current appointees, although current board members are allowed to reapply.
The new appointees” terms will be staggered with one term ending after one year, another ending after two years and the third running for three years. All reappointments will be made for three years after the inaugural term.
During discussion about the CVB board, Gavin asked Turnage if the appointment of an individual recommended by the Link constitutes a conflict of interest because the Link is partially funded by the CVB. Turnage cited an attorney general”s opinion recommending a board member placed in such a position should recuse himself or herself from voting and leave the room whenever a vote concerns the Link.
Box asked if councilmen petitioning the CVB board to fund festivals with which the councilmen are involved constituted a conflict since the council will appoint the board members. Turnage said he has not received an attorney general”s opinion on the topic, but stated he “would be nervous about that.”
Several council members, supervisors and Mayor Robert Smith are involved with festivals or events which receive CVB funding.
In other business, the council approved the adoption of an Entertainment District Ordinance designating downtown, Seventh Avenue North and the island as entertainment districts.
The designation includes state-sponsored tax incentives for businesses within the districts requiring the purchase of a ticket for admission.
The board also voted to convert Short 12th Street South to a one-way street.
Jason Browne was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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