July 27, 2007

County Report

Boards and commissions vacancies in district three

By Supervisor Pete McHugh
Special to the Times

The Board of Supervisors has established 60 boards and commissions to discuss matters related to certain policy areas and then forward recommendations to the Board.

Commissioners must reside in Santa Clara County and are appointed by the Board of Supervisors usually for three or four year terms. Most meetings are held monthly at the County Government Center located at 70 West Hedding Street in San Jose.

A commissioner's term usually ends on June 30, which means that in August, board offices have a large number of appointments to make. My office currently has 16 vacancies on 13 different boards or commissions. Although appointees may reside in any of the five supervisorial districts, I prefer to appoint candidates who live in my district. My district is comprised of Milpitas, a large portion of Sunnyvale, and the Alviso, Berryessa and Evergreen areas of San Jose. If you have any questions or wish to request an application, please contact Shivani Desai in my office at (408) 299-5037.

Below, I describe some of the more popular or hard-to-fill district three vacancies. For a complete list of my current vacancies, visit my website at www.pmchugh.org and select “boards and commissions” from the left side of the screen.

Advisory Commission for Persons with Disabilities
This commission reviews and evaluates the needs, services, facilities and special problems of persons with disabilities in Santa Clara County. The commission meets the third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. This commission will submit nominees for appointment to my office. If you wish for the commission to consider you, please contact the Clerk of the Board at (408) 299-5085.

Child Abuse Council
This council recommends programs for funding by the Children’s Trust Fund. Members have a background in the child abuse field and provide innovative contributions on issues to include child abuse prevention, treatment and education. My nominee must represent a justice agency and have experience in the child abuse field. The council meets the second Friday of each month at 7:30 a.m.

Commission on the Status of Women
This commission focuses on actions that will help eliminate the practice of discrimination and prejudice against women in the areas of housing, employment, education and related fields. Any resident with an interest in women’s issues may apply. This commission meets the second Monday of each month at 6 p.m.

Correctional Industries Advisory Board
This board makes recommendations on ways to help county jail inmates develop skills and work experience. The board focuses on enhancing an inmate’s ability to find employment after release. My nominee must be a representative of the adult education system. This board meets as needed at 701 South Abel Street in Milpitas.

Historical Heritage Commission
This commission seeks to protect, preserve and promote the county's historical and cultural heritage. My nominee must have demonstrated participation and interest in matters relating to the purposes of the commission. The commission meets the third Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m.

Mental Health Board
This board acts in an advisory capacity to review and evaluate the community’s mental health needs, services, facilities and special problems. I am currently responsible for two vacancies on this board. One nominee must be a consumer of mental health services and another nominee must be a family member of a consumer of mental health services. The board meets the second Monday of each month at 12 p.m. at the East Valley Clinic in San Jose.

Senior Care Commission
This commission assesses issues, concerns and needs of persons over the age of 60 with restricted self care capabilities who are in need of institutional and/or community-based, long-term care. The commission also makes recommendations regarding legislation, education and services affecting this population. My nominee should be over 60 years of age and have an interest in senior issues. This commission meets the third Wednesday of each month at 2 p.m.