Athens Municipal Arts Commission asks council to add seats, consider student and county representation

Kelly Reisbeck, representing the Athens Municipal Arts Commission (AMAC), asked the Finance & Personnel committee on Feb. 9 to recommend an amendment to city code 3.070.5 to increase AMAC membership from seven to nine and to permit up to four members who live outside the corporate city limits (proposed to include Athens Township). Reisbeck said the goal is to broaden volunteer participation and create a student seat tied to the College of Fine Arts’ Master of Arts Administration program.

Reisbeck said AMAC is fully staffed now but that the limitation on outside members has previously prevented capable volunteers who live in nearby townships from serving. Committee members and public commenters suggested broader county representation rather than limiting changes to Athens Township. Member Wood expressly favored opening seats to the whole county; other members proposed consulting the mayor and AMAC before drafting ordinance language.

The administration advised that, because no first reading has yet occurred, the committee may recommend adjustments before the city places the ordinance on first reading next week. Reisbeck said she would report AMAC’s view at their next public meeting and coordinate with the mayor’s office. No vote was taken to adopt a change; staff advised that ordinance language could be prepared for first reading after AMAC and mayoral input.

Next procedural steps: AMAC will discuss the specific geographic language at a public meeting and the administration will prepare ordinance language if there is committee support; first reading is tentatively scheduled for next week.