Minutes 11-10-2011 - Laserfiche WebLink

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- Does the Board want to proceed with a mandatory adjournment time, with the Chair calling the 10:30pm time and asking the Board to vote on continuance of the meeting? - Or would the Board prefer to continue as it has with the meeting continuing until all agenda items are discussed? Commissioner Foushee said that it is important to her to have a mandatory adjournment time. In her experience, she thinks that when they remain in their seats for long periods of time they begin to have diminishing returns. The County Commissioners should consider that they want the public to be engaged in their meetings and if an agenda item is on the end of the agenda the Board is not being considerate to the public. She said that there is a span of time where the County Commissioners can be engaged and avoid exhaustion by sitting for long periods. Chair Pelissier agreed with Commissioner Foushee and said that there are articles that reinforce this concept. Commissioner Foushee said that she could compromise and go with a mandatory adjournment at 11:00 p.m. Commissioner Gordon said that she supported Commissioner Foushee regarding making decisions. She said that the start time was moved to 7:00 p.m. to allow more time. She prefers a 10:30 p.m. adjournment time. Chair Pelissier said that the Chair and Vice-Chair cannot predict time frames of an agenda item. It is impossible for them to try and decide this. She suggested reminding everyone at the beginning of a meeting when there are lengthy items to keep comments succinct. Commissioner Hemminger said that she preferred the 10:30 p.m. adjournment time, but if there is still discussion of an item, then the Board can finish the item and vote to extend if needed. Commissioner Yuhasz agreed with this and said that if there is a closed session item, the mandatory adjournment time might have to be waived. The Board agreed that the 10:30 p.m. mandatory adjournment time is for the open session only. Commissioner Foushee said that it is no different for her in closed session because the Board is still trying to make decisions late at night. She agreed that comments should be succinct during the open sessions when there are closed sessions so that the Board is not making decisions so late at night. Commissioner Jacobs said that he originally brought this up because he opposed the by- laws stating that one Commissioner could oppose extending the meeting and the Board would have to automatically adjourn. The Board agreed by consensus for a 10:30 p.m, adjournment time with a majority vote and not just one Commissioner. Chair Pelissier asked if people wanted to consider Commissioner Jacobs' suggestion of a dinner meeting before a regular meeting for very important closed session items. Commissioner Gordon said that she is not in favor of dinner meetings because she has commitments during the day and therefore has trouble getting here by 7:00 p.m. Commissioner Jacobs said that he could do it in extraordinary circumstances only.