The move by the administration of Harford County Executive Barry Glassman to seek members to participate in the localized community councils is a good one.
The councils, which the administration refers to as advisory boards, are expected to continue bringing issues of local concern to the attention of the county government.
To varying degrees, the councils have managed to do this since their incarnation in the early 1990s, but the degree to which they have been successful has varied. The boards serving Edgewood and Fallston have been particularly vigilant about bringing issues of civic concern ranging from heroin abuse to criminal activity to the forefront. Some have gone dormant, and others are somewhere in between.
The challenge facing Glassman and his administration has been to reinvigorate the boards, which means ensuring those appointed to them are willing to be active in pursuing issues that end up being raised.
This, of course, is a double edged sword to anyone holding elected office. Anyone who can effectively advocate from an appointed position on an advisory board is probably also capable of making a run for office. In other words, the political incentive to appoint people with strong personalities and boundless energy can potentially have mixed consequences for those doing the appointing.
Still, that's what is needed to give the community councils, or advisory boards, the kind of focus they need to be more effective moving forward, members who are energetic and willing to advocate for their community.
The administration is seeking five to 10 people to serve on each of eight boards serving Abingdon, Churchville/Creswell, Dublin/Darlington, Edgewood, Fallston, Jarrettsville/ Norrisville, Joppa/Joppatowne and Whiteford/Cardiff/Pylesville/Street. Anyone interested in serving can find out more by visiting the website http://www.harfordcountymd.gov/cab.
While it will be incumbent on the people who end up being appointed to be vigilant in order to be effective, it will also require the administration pay a relatively high level of attention to the advisory boards. After all, no one wants to be part of something that isn't taken seriously by the people who set it up.