September 14, 2011
Request for Applications for Appointment to Serve on Citizen Oversight Committees for the Game and Fish Fund
Citizen oversight of the Game and Fish Fund has been a valued service since 1994. The structure is undergoing a change and all citizen appointments are being redone. Under statutory authority renewed by the 2011 legislature, the DNR must appoint at least ten persons each to the new Fisheries Oversight Committee (FOC) and Wildlife Oversight Committee (WOC). DNR managers anticipate appointing a mix of experienced and new oversight members who together comprise a range of knowledge and interests about the various licenses, permits, stamps, and other funding sources, and a strong interest in monitoring the proper expenditure of those funds.
On December 15 each year, the DNR publishes an annual Game and Fish Fund Report on expenditures from the fund. Each committee will review the report in detail, discuss questions and any issues of concern, and write a report on the conclusions of its review. Each committee will choose a chair from among its members. The two committees will make a special effort to work through their networks to involve others in the review of stamps, surcharges and other topics of specialized interest. That participation will happen informally and without a commissioner’s appointment.
Five members (including the chair) of each committee will also serve on an umbrella Budgetary Oversight Committee (BOC) and I will appoint a BOC Chair to make that a group of eleven. The BOC will integrate the committee reports and address matters of common concern. Based on past activity, we anticipate that the oversight work will wrap up in May or June of each year.
General terms
The DNR Commissioner determines all appointments, based on recommendations from division managers. Appointees may request mileage reimbursement but they are not eligible for a per diem. Appointees are not paid and must abide by requirements pertaining to potential conflicts of interest. All appointments from previous years of Game and Fish Fund citizen oversight are terminated and previous members will have to reapply if they want to be reappointed. This oversight work can be a significant time commitment each year and appointees are asked to make a 2-3 year commitment.
Additional information
See http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/gamefishoversight/index.html for links to the following materials:
· Diagram of new oversight structure
· Overview of Game and Fish Fund citizen oversight
Find reports since 2002 at http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/gamefishoversight/reports.html
How to apply
Applications will be accepted online at: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/gamefishoversight/index.html
Data provided for the oversight committee application is classified as public data under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act. The deadline for applications is Friday, October 14, 2011.
Contacts
The following managers are available if you have questions about this opportunity:
Dirk Peterson, Fisheries Management Section Chief at [email protected] or 651-259-5229
Dennis Simon, Wildlife Management Section Chief at [email protected] or 651-259-5237
Bob Meier, Director of Policy and Government Relations at [email protected] or 651-259-5024