Several boards and committees in Grays Harbor County have vacancies just waiting to be filled by concerned citizens who would like to get involved in their community.

There are several layers to county governance and serving on a board, committee or commission allows people to serve without running for public office or taking a full-time government job.

There are numerous current open positions with no less than eight slots of varied interest available on the Marine Resource Committee alone.

According to the Clerk of the Grays Harbor County Board of Commissioners Wendy Chatham, Grays Harbor County is working on updating, standardizing or creating new pages on the county’s official website that detail the responsibilities of each board or committee, the qualifications required of potential members and more.

The county’s website currently lists three notices of vacancy — Salary Commission, Boundary Review Board and Marine Resource Committee. Those vacancy notices describe what the boards do, the eligibility requirements and application procedures. Residents may also complete an “application of interest.”

“There’s no consistent resource, yet, but the website will eventually have at minimum a description page for each committee,” Chatham said. “When it comes to membership requirements, that is not very consistent, we’re getting closer to that.”

Chatham said that the boards and committees serve a crucial role in the community and give people an opportunity to participate in their local government, especially if there is an area of concern they are passionate about.

“This is their opportunity to be a commissioner, basically, give advice to the board of commissioners. The commissioners can’t possibly know every detail. It’s expected these advisory councils will review material that will go to the board of commissioners like staff, in the absence of staff,” Chatham said. “So they can participate in the public process without having to be an elected official or be a paid employee. It gives them an opportunity to understand how to effectively make change. Oftentimes with government people feel helpless, they think they have to either work for them to make a change or be an elected official and that’s not the case.”

Chatham added that several boards and committees have direct input on county policy.

Most board and committee members serve a four-year term. The Grays Harbor County Board of Commissioners consisting of Georgia Miller, Rick Hole and Vickie Raines are responsible for appointing members to the following boards and commissions.

Board of Adjustment

Boundary Review Board

Board of Equalization

Building Codes Advisory Council

Civil Service Commission

Economic Development (.09) Committee

Fair Board

Housing Authority

Lodging Tax Advisory Board

Marine Resource Committee*

Olympic Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council (O3A)*

Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Council

Parks Committee*

Planning Commission*

Public Facilities District (PFD)

Salary Commission*

Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC)*

Timberland Regional Library Board

Veterans Advisory Board

Washington Coast Sustainable Salmon Partnership

Wellness Committee*

Noxious Weed Board

*current vacancy

Visit the Grays Harbor County website for more information on boards and committees and learn how to apply for a position: https://www.graysharbor.us/government/board_of_county_commissioners/boards_and_committees.php