Nov 13, 2026 · Jon Garfunkel
Civic Technology Advisory Boards provide a structured way for local governments to receive guidance on technology and civic engagement.
Many counties and municipalities lack these today. Where they exist, they often grew out of cable TV franchise oversight or focus on the government's own IT. Few look at how volunteer boards and commissions work, how residents find and join public decisions, or how a community can take up new tools for participation. Artificial intelligence adds urgency. Municipalities are adopting or being offered AI tools for records, permits, and resident services, often with no independent place to weigh cost, privacy, accuracy, and public trust.
This template proposes a single board that covers government technology, AI, and civic participation together. It is written so a town, city, or county can adopt it with local details filled in, or so a group of residents can use it to organize on their own and seek official recognition later. It draws on existing boards in Seattle, Arlington County, Needham, Salt Lake County, and others listed at the end. Who might be candidates for such boards? See Recognizing the Civic Technologist.
The [Name] Technology Advisory Board (the “Board”) is an advisory body of the [Governing Body]. It makes recommendations. It has no authority to spend funds, sign contracts, or direct staff.
The Board helps the [Town / County] use technology well and helps residents take part in public decisions. It does this by giving independent advice, convening people who work on these questions, and connecting the [Town / County] with outside partners.
The Board shall advise the [Governing Body], the [Supervisor / County Executive], and the [IT Department] on matters referred to it and on matters it identifies itself, including:
The Board shall have [9 / 11 / 13] voting members appointed by the [Governing Body / Chair of the Governing Body], drawn from:
The Board should reflect the [Town / County]'s geography and population. In a county, members should come from at least [five] different municipalities.
The following serve as non-voting ex officio members: the [Chief Information Officer] or a designee, one member of the [Governing Body] named as liaison, and [the Clerk / a records officer].
The Board elects a Chair and Vice Chair from its voting members each [January], for one-year terms. [Alternative: the Governing Body designates the Chair.] The Chair runs meetings, sets agendas with the staff liaison, and reports to the Governing Body.
The Board may form working groups on specific topics. Working groups may include residents and outside experts who are not Board members. Each working group has a Board member as lead and reports to the full Board. Only the full Board adopts recommendations.
The [IT Department / Clerk’s office / Office of the Governing Body] provides a staff liaison who helps schedule meetings, post notices and minutes, and route requests between the Board and departments. The [Town / County] provides a public web page for the Board and a shared space for its documents.
Members serve without pay. Reasonable expenses may be reimbursed with prior approval.
An independent group can start right away and build a record that makes official status easier to get later. Use the model charter with these changes.
| Charter section | Change for an independent group |
|---|---|
| 1. Name and status | “The [Name] Civic Technology Council is an independent, volunteer, nonpartisan group. It is not part of any government.” Avoid “Board” or “Commission” in the name so it isn’t mistaken for an official body. |
| 3. Duties | Same list, but “advise” becomes “offer recommendations to” and “as requested” becomes “by invitation.” |
| 4. Membership | Open to any resident who attends [two] meetings and agrees to the charter. A steering committee of [5–7] is elected by members each year. Keep the mix of tech professionals, board volunteers, and community members as a goal. |
| 5. Terms | Steering committee terms of [one / two] years. |
| 7. Meetings | Same openness rules. Publish notes on the group’s own site or shared workspace. |
| 9. Staff support | Replace with: “The group will ask the [Governing Body] to name a liaison and to list the group on its website.” |
| 10. Reporting | Send the annual report to the [Governing Body] and to the [municipal officials’ association] as a courtesy. |
| 13. Review and dissolution | Members may amend the charter by a two-thirds vote at a meeting announced [14] days ahead. |
| New: Affiliation | “The group may affiliate with regional or national civic technology networks. Affiliation does not make the group a chapter or agent of any organization unless members vote to do so.” |
| New: Fiscal sponsor | “The group may accept funds only through a fiscal sponsor approved by the steering committee.” |
The usual first request to government is modest: a letter acknowledging the group, a named staff or elected liaison, and a listing on the official website. A request to become an official board comes after a year of public meetings and reports.
A first year should produce a few concrete results that the governing body can see. Adjust the items to local priorities.
| Quarter | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | Organize: elect officers, adopt work plan, set meeting schedule, set up public page and shared workspace | Published work plan |
| Q1 | Inventory: list every advisory board and commission, its meeting schedule, contact, and where its minutes are posted | Public directory of boards |
| Q2 | Survey board chairs and members on the tools they use and what they need | Short findings memo |
| Q2 | Review current AI and data practices with the IT department | Draft AI use guidelines |
| Q3 | Run one pilot with a willing board or commission, such as a shared calendar, a discussion space, or online public comment | Pilot report |
| Q3 | Host a public forum or meetup for residents who work in technology | List of volunteers for working groups |
| Q4 | Map outside partners: universities, civic tech groups, foundations, and platform providers interested in local pilots | Partner list with contacts |
| Q4 | Write and present the annual report | Annual report and recommendations |
Most existing technology advisory boards focus on government IT. Few include civic participation in their charge, which is the gap this template fills.
| Board | What to borrow |
|---|---|
| Seattle Community Technology Advisory Board | Started in 1995 out of the city’s cable TV advisory board and was renamed and rescoped in 2015. Charters can be updated to keep up with what the community needs. |
| Arlington County, VA Tech Commission | County-level model. Committees may include people who are not commissioners, and the commission coordinates with other advisory commissions and the schools. 13 members, three-year terms. |
| Needham, MA Technology Advisory Board | Small-town model: five appointed members on staggered three-year terms plus four ex officio members, meeting monthly. |
| Salt Lake County Technology ADvisory Boards | Detailed bylaws, including open meetings practice and annual ethics training for members. |
| Scarsdale Volunteer Advisory Council on Technology | Local volunteer advisory council on technology issues. |
| Rye Brook Technology and Communications Commission | Local technology and communications commission in Rye Brook, NY. |