The Board of Supervisors Tuesday approved an amendment to a Riverside County policy pertaining to terms of service for members of committees and commissions overseen by the board, limiting how long members can continue to serve after their terms have expired.

Supervisor Karen Spiegel raised the issue of language in Policy A-21 when it was brought before the board by the Executive Office for what were supposed to be routine changes.

"I think we need to be responsible and use the words 'good faith effort' and (set) a reasonable time limit (for appointing new members)," Spiegel said. "That puts a (few) more screws to it."

The supervisor's main concern was what she viewed as the weakness in A-21's current provisions, stemming from the fact that supervisors and their staff members currently face no time requirement, or deadline, for the appointment of new members of committees, advisory groups or commissions in each supervisorial district to replace ones whose terms have expired.

"If our offices don't reappoint, the commission or committee can't move forward," she said.

Individuals appointed by board members generally serve from two to four years. The policy currently permits a member whose term has expired, but who hasn't been re-appointed, to remain a sitting member until he or she is replaced.

Spiegel said the process of filling vacancies shouldn't be so loose. Board Chairman Chuck Washington initially questioned her concerns, noting that the person on his staff responsible for helping vet and select prospective appointees was "very good."

However, county Chief Counsel Minh Tran found merit in Spiegel's proposal, saying that adding the words "good faith effort" to the policy and establishing a firmer time limit of six months for appointments to fill vacancies might ensure that supervisors and their staffs don't ignore the need for replacements on committees "forever."

"The current language allows expired members to continue exercising duties," Tran said. "The (new) language proposes a good faith effort to properly replace, and after six months, the person with the expired term would not have the ability to continue (serving)."

He compared the amendment Spiegel wanted to adding a "layer of notice" for board members to pay attention and not neglect their responsibility to make appointments. But he also noted that, in some cases, the appointment process was controlled by state law, including the Maddy Local Appointive List Act of 1975. So supervisors and their staffs may only have limited discretion in the appointment process.

The board unanimously approved Spiegel's proposed amendment.

The groups, committees and commissions in the five supervisorial districts include municipal advisory councils, where unincorporated communities have no elected city councils, as well as cemetery maintenance advisory committees, groups that offer input on recreation, parks, water quality, veterans assistance, geriatric care and other issues.