By Lauren Rabin
The Town always needs skilled and talented volunteers to serve the Community and our local Government. The Selectmen’s Nomination Advisory Committee (SNAC) members can help you find an area where your skills and expertise will be most effective. The process is transparent, efficient, and welcoming to all Greenwich residents. Residents can also apply directly for positions on our Boards, Commissions, and Committees. The first step is to complete an application on the Town of Greenwich website. Once the application is validated, the Office of the First Selectman will schedule a confidential interview with the candidate to be considered for appointment.
Below is essential information regarding the appointing authority for each board, commission, or committee.
For the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board, Aging Commission, Alarm Appeals Board, Ethics Board, Fair Rent Commission, Harbor Management Commission, Health Board, Historic District Commission, Human Services Board, Inland Wetlands & Watercourse Agency, Nathaniel Witherell Board, Parks & Recreation Board, Planning & Zoning Commission, Planning & Zoning Board of Appeals, and School Building Committees: the three-member Board of Selectmen will interview the candidates and advance the nominated candidates to the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) for appointment. Nominated candidates must interview with the RTM Appointments Committee and one or more other RTM committees, depending on the board, commission, or committee. Nominees are discussed before the full RTM for appointment, during which the committees that interviewed the candidate report their recommendations.
The three-member Board of Selectmen will interview the candidates and appoint them to the ADA and Advocacy Advisory Committee, Citizens Police Advisory Committee, Energy Management Advisory Committee, Greenwich Communities (Housing Authority), and the Selectmen’s Nomination Committee.
For the Conservation Commission and Shellfish Commission, only the First Selectman interviews and appoints the candidate.
One of my liaison roles as Selectwoman is to SNAC. Over the past five years, I have personally interviewed hundreds of candidates. Candidates are consistently asked the same set of interview questions. The Board of Selectmen treats all candidates with respect and never discourages anyone from putting their name forward as a candidate. There have been some recent public attacks on a candidate appointed by the First Selectman, which is unfortunate. I sincerely trust this will not dampen any residents’ desire to express their interest in serving our community. For those that serve, I am incredibly grateful. As a community, we are fortunate to have residents willing to offer their skills and ti me. We are lucky to have diversity among those who serve, regardless of gender, political affiliation, or socioeconomic status. We welcome all applicants!
Selectwoman Lauren Rabin, serving in her 6th year on the Board of Selectmen.
