During the Nov. 29 Afton City Council work session, council members discussed whether the city’s various advisory boards should be called “committees” or “commissions.”

For several months now, the City Council was unclear on whether its advisory boards – the Design Review/Heritage Preservation, Public Works and Parks. The Planning Commission was understood to be a commission.

In the city’s ordinances, Design Review/Heritage Preservation and Parks are defined as commissions, but several council members believe they should be committees.

Public Works has always been defined as a committee.

“I vote we use committee,” council member Bill Palmquist said.

Council member Peg Nolz said she was in favor of having commissions because they are more formal.

Palmquist said he feels that the advisory boards are more reflective of a committee rather than a commission since it is understood that a commission has to meet on a regular night, take minutes and that a quorum is needed. All of Afton’s advisory boards, with the exception of the Planning Commission, meet sporadicly.

“I think you need that kind of flexibility,” council member Joe Richter said.

However, the City Council agreed that the meetings should be held at city hall and be noticed.

“The committees are not political,” Palmquist said. “It’s supposed to be kind of fun.”