Downers Grove council advances ideas to boost recruitment and engagement of boards and commissions

The village manager and council led an extended discussion on June 9 about a council priority project to strengthen the recruitment, role and engagement of Downers Grove’s boards and commissions.

Staff framed five objectives: expand recruitment, explore formal roles for boards in long-range planning, strengthen the council–board relationship, expand recruitment efforts and refine expectations for duties and meeting schedules. Council members suggested practical steps including targeted outreach to underrepresented groups, translated materials, soliciting brief resumes or questionnaires with applications, using board member video testimonials, and publishing a simple press kit or pamphlet for events such as "Coffee with the Council." Staff and council members also discussed operational ideas such as keeping applicant records for a three-year rolling period and routine annual check-ins of applicants.

On the question of how boards would provide input to long-range planning, councilors and staff proposed that boards submit concise reports on recurring trends and issues ahead of the village’s long-range planning cycle rather than asking boards to propose priority actions or strategies. Other items discussed included assigning council members to meet informally with new boards for "welcome" conversations, piloting a periodic newsletter to board members, and considering phased retreats or annual oral reports from chairs. Several council members emphasized starting with lower-cost, staff-supported tactics before advancing to larger events.

Staff said they will compile the council’s direction into a slide deck and written draft for a final report; the project will return for council consideration after staff refines the recommended action list.