The Rome City Commission is slated to set the qualifying fee tonight for the board elections scheduled for later in the year.

The terms of Ward 2 Commissioners Jamie Doss, Sue Lee and Detrick Redding expire in December.

Redding was appointed last year to complete the unexpired term of Duane Reid, who resigned because of a work conflict. Doss has been on the board since 1994. Lee is finishing her first four-year term.

Qualifying runs Aug. 26-30 for the Nov. 5 election. While the vote is citywide, candidates must live in the area south of the Etowah and Coosa rivers, including East and South Rome. The fee is expected to be $252, which is 3 percent of a commissioner’s $8,400 annual salary.

The last city election, in 2011, was canceled because of lack of interest. Only six candidates qualified for the six open Ward 1 and Ward 3 seats.

The board caucuses at 5 p.m. and starts its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. in City Hall, 601 Broad St. Both sessions are open for the public to attend.

This is the Commission’s first meeting of the year and the action agenda is relatively light, although members will likely discuss the issues of backyard chickens and pro-rated maintenance costs of the new countywide communications system during caucus.

A public hearing is scheduled for Jan. 28 on possible changes to the city ordinance requiring special use permits to keep chickens in residential areas.

Tonight the board will elect the mayor and mayor pro tem — an annual selection for what once were called the chairman and vice chairman positions. Commissioner Evie McNiece has been the mayoral choice for the past two years.

The board also will make its yearly appointments to management positions and recognize employees who obtained degrees or marked 20 or more years of service in 2012.

Click to see a City Commission agenda.