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Record of Proceedings

Rockville Youth Commission Meeting: Vice Chair Role, Elections, and Survey Results – September 15, 2026

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, September 15, 2026
BodyRockville, Maryland
SessionMeeting Portal
DateTuesday, September 15, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 50:00

Original source
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0:00

Because I just feel like it's really important to have inclusivity and give you guys something more to look forward to and have a goal than just being chair because there's like there's always growth and there's always something to look up to.

0:18

So I feel like just having just even a resume builder, just saying your vice chair, like that's a big accomplishment.

0:25

And I just really want you guys to feel like you guys have opportunities to get leadership positions too that is not just specifically chair.

0:38

So the sort of roles and responsibilities I set for um being nominated for vice chair are you must be junior or senior in high school.

0:50

Um you must oh you must be voted in by fellow commissioners.

0:55

Um the vice chair is to take initiative, support the chair, represent the commission if the chair is unavailable or when delegated, and they will also be asked to help plan and manage embodies.

1:11

So as well as the vice chair, you will help propose new ideas to the agenda and be the main participant and the creation of the report at the end of the year.

1:24

So when we did the report last year, it was like three of us that really commenced it.

1:31

So I want to just sort of relieve some of the pressure and sort of leave that in the hands of the vice chair with support from the commission as well as me.

1:44

And so vice chairs are also required to attend um all meetings and events to their best of their ability.

1:53

So if you have something that comes up, we understand, but please try your best as being in the leadership role.

2:02

You have to set an example and be sort of a mentor to fill the commissioners.

2:07

So any questions about that or comments.

2:17

Okay, great.

2:19

Okay.

2:20

So now we're going to move into the chair nomination and sorry, we have to vote on the existence of a vice chair.

2:29

So the motion call for a motion.

2:32

I'm calling for a motion to approve the vice chair role.

2:38

I motion to approve the vice chair role.

2:40

Can they have a second, please?

2:42

I second that.

2:43

Great.

2:44

So the vice chair will oh every all in favor of the vice chair.

2:49

Um, great.

2:55

So the vice chair role has been approved, and now we will move forward into chair nominations and votes.

3:04

So as you guys know, I'm currently the interim chair.

3:09

I was elected, and I believe July.

3:14

Uh yeah, when our former chair Becca per term ended before all of ours, so we had to have an interim chair.

3:22

And I was elected for that position.

3:24

So typically what I do is I um help Jordan and Melinda to um create the agenda.

3:33

Um I talk to them closely, like I'm like contact sort of um commission to staff liaison, like if we talk about anything in our groups that needs to be brought up.

3:46

Um I leave the meetings.

3:49

Um during my time as chair, I oh, we have two.

3:54

Oh, you're one of the things.

3:55

During my time as chair, I really just spent my time building relationships with the mayor and council and just my time showing up at as many events as I could, and sort of broadening the outreach of the youth commission.

4:15

So that's sort of the role of chair.

4:18

So now we'll move on.

4:20

Just to add to that, I'm just gonna give like a brief description based off of the um the policies that we have for the boards and commission task force.

4:29

So um the purpose of the chair, the section of the board and commission committees and tasks for handbook defines the general role responsibilities and authorities of typical chairperson serving in each of the city's boards, commission committees, and task forces.

4:41

I'm under profile, the chairperson of any of the cities um BCCTF is generally responsible for having the work plan of the BCCTF and presiding over their meetings.

4:51

Exempt as providing um enabling legislation for BCCTF chairpersons are appointed by the BCCTF members annually, which is you guys.

5:03

The chairpersion's direction directs the members of the BCCTF by fulfilling the mission of their groups, such as missions by missions may be advisory, administrative, legislative, or quasi Jewish Discial, depending on the BCCTF.

5:19

The chairperson is in unsert with the staff liaison who acts as a device or facilitator, leads the groups to completions of its tasks as defined by either the ordinance policies or directive for the mayor and council.

5:33

The responsibilities as a chair is to be familiar with the rules and procedures and proclamations, procedures, um follow following their following them during the group's meetings.

5:44

Be familiar familiar with the specific ordinance or charters which establish the mission and scope of work in the groups, focus the plan work plan of their groups related to the state's mission, scope of work, maintain proper um courtesy and conduct all group businesses, assume responsibilities as appropriate, delegate responsibilities, uh monitor progress of group staff assignments, be familiar with other ordinance laws, rules and policies, assure group meetings and businesses conducted in full compliance with the open meeting act and other applicable laws.

6:15

Be familiar with the current and past work of the BCCTF and keep the staff leads on the form at all times regardless of the work of the BCCTF.

6:23

Okay.

6:24

I also forgot to add for our commission.

6:27

It's a requirement that you are to um run for the role of chair.

6:37

Yes, and that is um outlined in the resolution.

6:42

All right.

6:43

So we'll take maybe we'll take it over from here.

6:46

Um do we have any nominations that will like to do we have anyone that would like to nominate themselves to nominate someone to be chair?

6:54

Okay, we have one nomination.

6:55

Do we have a second nomination?

6:59

Going once, going twice.

7:02

All right.

7:05

We do have to vote.

7:06

Okay.

7:06

Um, so go ahead and I guess we just don't have to write it down the most vote.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Youth Programs█████████████████████████████████████████████68%
Procedural█████8%
Mental Health Awareness████6%
Public Engagement███5%
Community Engagement███4%
Grants Management███4%
Parks and Recreation██3%
Workforce Development█2%
Summary of Proceedings

Rockville Youth Commission Meeting: Vice Chair Role, Elections, and Survey Results – September 15, 2026

The Rockville Youth Commission met on September 15, 2026, to establish a new vice chair position, elect officers for the 2025-2026 term, and review results from a citywide youth survey. The commission approved the vice chair role, elected Layla McCarthy as chair, elected Daniella as vice chair, and discussed survey findings to guide the year’s goals.

Discussion Items

  • Creation of Vice Chair Role: Jordan proposed a new vice chair position to provide additional leadership opportunities beyond the chair. The role requires the vice chair to be a junior or senior in high school, be voted in by fellow commissioners, support the chair, represent the commission when needed, help plan events, propose ideas, and lead the end-of-year report. After a motion and second, the commission voted unanimously to approve the creation of the vice chair role.
  • Chair Election: Layla McCarthy was nominated and elected unanimously as chair for the 2025-2026 term. Jordan, the interim chair, outlined the chair's responsibilities including building relationships with mayor and council, leading meetings, and overseeing the work plan.
  • Vice Chair Election: Three candidates—Daniella, Anusia, and Alan—each gave a two-minute speech. Daniella emphasized her prior commitment to the commission and leadership roles; Anusia highlighted interest in policy, representation, and event planning; Alan noted his experience in career advisory. A written vote was held, and Daniella received 6 votes to become vice chair. The other candidates were encouraged to remain active.
  • Youth Survey Results and Recommendations: Melinda and Jordan presented findings from the youth survey (over 175 responses collected at fall festivals and online). The survey aimed to understand youth needs and city program gaps. Key findings:
    • Age distribution skewed toward middle school (ages 11-13); high school responses were low.
    • Top school response: Julius West Middle School (95 responses), followed by Richard Montgomery, Robert Frost, and Wootton High School. Rockville High School had only 7 responses.
    • Current involvement: sports (most common), academics/leadership, creative arts, STEM, community service; 7% not involved.
    • Program interests: sports, tech events, life skills, career prep.
    • Barriers to participation: peer influence, awareness, transportation, cost, scheduling.
    • Top challenges facing youth: mental health/emotional well-being (significantly highest), bullying/discrimination, substance use, academic pressure, technology.
    • Preferred engagement with government: online surveys, social media, school-based discussions, public meetings.
    • Recommendations were presented in six areas: strengthening youth outreach, expanding social/peer programming, improving program accessibility, keeping programs affordable/inclusive, addressing mental health, and fostering career readiness/leadership.
  • Grant Review Panel Opportunity: Jordan announced that the city is seeking 1-2 youth commissioners to serve on a grant review panel to evaluate nonprofit funding requests. Daniella shared her experience from the previous year, noting the time commitment (approximately 6 hours total, including training, independent review, and a virtual meeting) and that SSL hours are provided. Interested members must respond by the end of the week.
  • Old/New Business: Members were reminded to continue promoting the survey, especially to high school students, to increase older youth responses.

Key Outcomes

  • Motion approved: Creation of the vice chair role (unanimous).
  • Elected: Layla McCarthy as chair for the 2025-2026 term (unanimous).
  • Elected: Daniella as vice chair (6 votes; other candidates not specified).
  • Survey results will be shared with the commission for review; members will use the findings to propose goals at the next meeting.
  • Next steps: Commissioners to review full survey data and prepare goal ideas; promote survey further; interested volunteers for grant review panel to notify Jordan by end of week.
  • Meeting adjourned by motion.

Meeting Transcript

Because I just feel like it's really important to have inclusivity and give you guys something more to look forward to and have a goal than just being chair because there's like there's always growth and there's always something to look up to. So I feel like just having just even a resume builder, just saying your vice chair, like that's a big accomplishment. And I just really want you guys to feel like you guys have opportunities to get leadership positions too that is not just specifically chair. So the sort of roles and responsibilities I set for um being nominated for vice chair are you must be junior or senior in high school. Um you must oh you must be voted in by fellow commissioners. Um the vice chair is to take initiative, support the chair, represent the commission if the chair is unavailable or when delegated, and they will also be asked to help plan and manage embodies. So as well as the vice chair, you will help propose new ideas to the agenda and be the main participant and the creation of the report at the end of the year. So when we did the report last year, it was like three of us that really commenced it. So I want to just sort of relieve some of the pressure and sort of leave that in the hands of the vice chair with support from the commission as well as me. And so vice chairs are also required to attend um all meetings and events to their best of their ability. So if you have something that comes up, we understand, but please try your best as being in the leadership role. You have to set an example and be sort of a mentor to fill the commissioners. So any questions about that or comments. Okay, great. Okay. So now we're going to move into the chair nomination and sorry, we have to vote on the existence of a vice chair. So the motion call for a motion. I'm calling for a motion to approve the vice chair role. I motion to approve the vice chair role. Can they have a second, please? I second that. Great. So the vice chair will oh every all in favor of the vice chair. Um, great. So the vice chair role has been approved, and now we will move forward into chair nominations and votes. So as you guys know, I'm currently the interim chair. I was elected, and I believe July. Uh yeah, when our former chair Becca per term ended before all of ours, so we had to have an interim chair. And I was elected for that position. So typically what I do is I um help Jordan and Melinda to um create the agenda. Um I talk to them closely, like I'm like contact sort of um commission to staff liaison, like if we talk about anything in our groups that needs to be brought up. Um I leave the meetings. Um during my time as chair, I oh, we have two. Oh, you're one of the things. During my time as chair, I really just spent my time building relationships with the mayor and council and just my time showing up at as many events as I could, and sort of broadening the outreach of the youth commission. So that's sort of the role of chair. So now we'll move on. Just to add to that, I'm just gonna give like a brief description based off of the um the policies that we have for the boards and commission task force. So um the purpose of the chair, the section of the board and commission committees and tasks for handbook defines the general role responsibilities and authorities of typical chairperson serving in each of the city's boards, commission committees, and task forces. I'm under profile, the chairperson of any of the cities um BCCTF is generally responsible for having the work plan of the BCCTF and presiding over their meetings. Exempt as providing um enabling legislation for BCCTF chairpersons are appointed by the BCCTF members annually, which is you guys. The chairpersion's direction directs the members of the BCCTF by fulfilling the mission of their groups, such as missions by missions may be advisory, administrative, legislative, or quasi Jewish Discial, depending on the BCCTF. The chairperson is in unsert with the staff liaison who acts as a device or facilitator, leads the groups to completions of its tasks as defined by either the ordinance policies or directive for the mayor and council. The responsibilities as a chair is to be familiar with the rules and procedures and proclamations, procedures, um follow following their following them during the group's meetings. Be familiar familiar with the specific ordinance or charters which establish the mission and scope of work in the groups, focus the plan work plan of their groups related to the state's mission, scope of work, maintain proper um courtesy and conduct all group businesses, assume responsibilities as appropriate, delegate responsibilities, uh monitor progress of group staff assignments, be familiar with other ordinance laws, rules and policies, assure group meetings and businesses conducted in full compliance with the open meeting act and other applicable laws. Be familiar with the current and past work of the BCCTF and keep the staff leads on the form at all times regardless of the work of the BCCTF. Okay. I also forgot to add for our commission. It's a requirement that you are to um run for the role of chair. Yes, and that is um outlined in the resolution.

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