Newburgh officials and activists are trying to get people who have been vocal about their issues with the city to sit on an actual city board – something they say has been a challenge.

Local activist Gabrielle Burton-Hill has been on a campaign to encourage people who criticize the city for whatever reasons to apply for vacant seats on several city advisory boards in order to change policies they do not like.

"Do you want to be a part of the solution? That requires a sacrifice," Hill said. "Most board meetings are two hours a month."

The city regularly requests new applicants for all boards.

Hill said it has been years since the last meeting of the city's ethics board, which has just two members. The same goes for the Districting Commission, which has no members.

While some boards have several members according to the city's website, not all of them show up. On some evenings, not enough show up to hold the meeting.

The boards must have a quorum, or more than half the members present, to proceed with a meeting and hold votes.

Hill said that once the COVID-19 pandemic hit, some boards' members stopped attending meetings, and it has been hard to get the boards back fully functioning.

Hill sits on two boards, including the transportation board, which did not meet for two years until Hill assembled a reliable group of members.

“I'm happy to report that since last July, we've been able to make quorum every month," she said, "And we've also been able to clear some backlog."

Some residents like Pedro Lopez said they cannot spare the personal time to help shape city policy and rules. Lopez spoke with News 12 about issues he sees in the local job market and the police department.

"All these young fellas need a job," he said. "How are we going to help them get a job?"

He said he has no plans to sit on a local advisory board.

Others like production company owner Spencer Conti, a Newburgh Free Academy alumnus, are interested. Conti said residents should have more influence over gentrification, an issue a few boards would address.

"I think a lot of the ways people have been doing it are questionable," he said. "It's a mixed bag."

Policy and spending decisions continue to be approved by the Council whether or not council members receive input from an advisory board.