Orange County NC Website
Chair Foushee said that some items are directed by the Board of County <br /> Commissioners to the Chair and the Vice-Chair to be placed on an agenda, and that <br /> information is communicated to staff. Sometimes the Board is told that the items are to be put <br /> on an upcoming agenda. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said that there is no organized way other than Board comments <br /> or from the Board of County Commissioners to staff at a meeting. <br /> Discussion ensued about items that the public bring up during public comment at the <br /> beginning of the meeting. <br /> Commissioner Pellisier said that it would be helpful when County Commissioners make <br /> a request for an agenda item that there is a response as to whether the Board wants it on an <br /> agenda and, if so, a potential timeframe for it. She also suggested having a document with the <br /> upcoming major agenda items. <br /> Laura Blackmon said that there is a long-range agenda calendar and it is a working <br /> document, although not a complete list. <br /> Commissioner Gordon said that the timeline for agenda items is very important. She <br /> made reference to the CIP and the library plans and asked why these items were not received <br /> in a timely manner and why they were not tracked. She said that the County needs a better <br /> way of tracking items that are important to the Board of County Commissioners. She thought <br /> that the County Commissioners got things on the agenda by sending a request to the Chair <br /> and the Vice-Chair. <br /> Chair Foushee said that she did consider the formal request for the library item and it <br /> has been put on the May 5th agenda. <br /> Commissioner Nelson said that he would prefer that Board members bring up items to <br /> be put on the agenda during Board Comments so that everyone can hear what is being asked. <br /> He is not comfortable with responding to just one Board member. <br /> Commissioner Nelson made reference to the long-range agenda and said that he <br /> would like for the County Commissioners to get from staff a quarterly calendar of what is <br /> coming up on agendas for the next three months, with the understanding that this is a draft <br /> and things change. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said that it seems like the Board is evolving into more of a formal <br /> model and requesting things with a motion instead of everyone just agreeing. <br /> Commissioner Gordon said that the Board rarely gets to Board Comments, so this will <br /> not be a good way to get things on the agenda. Chair Foushee said that the request could be <br /> sent to the Chair and the Vice-Chair, with an email to other County Commissioners to see if <br /> they want it on the agenda. <br /> Commissioner Pelissier said that it cannot be done as a group email because of the <br /> open meetings law. The email would have to be sent individually. <br /> Commissioner Yuhasz suggested that two people make a request for an item to be on <br /> the agenda, otherwise, the agenda will be too large. The process should be more formalized. <br /> Geof Gledhill advised that the County Commissioners avoid having email conversations <br /> because of the open meetings law. <br /> Commissioner Nelson said that he would like to be as transparent as possible, and he <br /> would like the preferred mechanism to get items on the agenda to be during Board Comments, <br /> and the second choice to be County Commissioners sending an email to the Chair and the <br /> Vice-Chair, copying other Board members in case there are objections. <br /> The Board agreed. <br /> Removing Items from Consent Agenda <br />