Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department board votes to seek expansion from five to seven members
The Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department board narrowly voted Monday night to ask Lawrence and Douglas County leaders to expand its size from five to seven members.
It would be the first change in the board’s size since 1969.
Shirley Martin-Smith, the newest board member, proposed the expansion with the purpose of bringing more knowledge and experience to the table.
Board members are appointed to three-year terms by the City and County Commissions and can serve two terms.
Besides Martin-Smith, other members are Dr. Alan Cowles, Paul Liechti, Dr. Gerald Pees and Karen Shumate.
Shumate and Pees voted against the expansion, while the others voted for it.
The issue was first brought up during the board’s monthly meeting in November.
Board member terms begin in March. Cowles and Shumate will have served a three-year term next month. Cowles will seek reappointment, but Shumate will not.