So you’ve just been appointed to a village or city commission, congratulations. But if your next thought was “Okay… now what?” this episode is for you.

In this short, practical conversation, I break down:

- What a commission is (and what it isn’t)

- Where a commission’s authority actually comes from

- What to do before your first meeting

- How effective commissioners really add value

Commissions don’t run government.They advise it.

Good commissioners ask better questions, listen more than they talk, and help elected officials make better decisions.

This is Patrick’s Poor Man’s Guide — local government, in plain English.

Subscribers: an extended edition is available with deeper discussion on authority, working with staff, and how to stay effective without burning out.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit poormanspublishingco.substack.com/subscribe