Council committee forwards 8 names for tax advisory board

Erin Danastasio is the proposed chair for the Citizens’ Advisory Board.

Springfield City Council's Committee of the Whole voted yesterday to recommend eight names for membership on the new Citizens' Advisory Board.

The board, to be led by proposed Chair Erin Danastasio, would provide recommendations to council on projects to be funded by a sales tax approved by the city’s voters in November, according to a news release. The three-quarter-cent tax devotes one-quarter cent to the city’s Police and Fire Pension Fund and the other half-cent to city projects aligned with the Forward SGF comprehensive plan. The Citizens' Advisory Board will oversee the half-cent portion of the tax.

The recommended initial Citizens' Advisory Board members are as follows:
• Danastasio, proposed chair and executive director of The Hatch Foundation, three-year term
• Rusty Worley, proposed vice chair and executive director of the Downtown Springfield Association, three-year term
• Andy Peebles, shareholder and attorney with Carnahan Evans PC, three-year term
• Clif Smart, former president of Missouri State University, two-year term
• Becky Volz, Neighborhood Advisory Council chair, two-year term
• Leslie Forrester, executive director of the Springfield Regional Arts Council, two-year term
• Lauren Shantz, vice president of public affairs with the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, one-year term
• Christina Angle, chief financial officer and vice president of The Erlen Group, one-year term

Andy Lear, retired partner with Forvis Mazars LLP and former Springfield City Council member, previously was proposed as a Citizens' Advisory Board member and its vice chair. The release indicates he declined the appointment for personal reasons.

Council is expected to vote on the recommended members at its March 24 meeting, according to the release.