Minutes 01-29-2013 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Chair Jacobs noted that the statement on page 14 specifies "take positions within their capacity as an advisory board member." To that point, a speaker should be present not in that official position, but as an American with a right to free speech. Commissioner Price said, with regard to using stationary, members should be careful with using title of Commissioner. Commissioner Rich said that this goes back to Commissioner Dorosin's point of how someone would know about an issue if they weren't at a Commissioners' meeting. There may be an event at a Commissioner's meeting that you would not otherwise know about and the representation of yourself as a Commissioner would be relevant. Commissioner Price said that to say you are a Commissioner is different than to sign as a Commissioner. Commissioner McKee said any elected office is different than serving on an advisory board. He said the Commissioner title was earned because an election was won. The title is attached to a name, thus he is not concerned about simply signing it. He said it only identifies who you are. He said that elected officials have earned the right to use that title. Commissioner Price said that in the case of forming an opinion or judgment on an issue, they should remain neutral unless supported by full board. Chair Jacobs acknowledged that there are different views and the issue does not need to be resolved today. Commissioner Dorosin referred back to the topic of the appointment process. He noted that currently boards bring forth recommendations and they as Board of County Commissioners have freedom to accept those or choose differently. He said that his issue is, if there is a recommended candidate, does it make sense to let the board chair know that this is someone they support or have recruited. He said that the negative side of this is the idea that it is exerting undue influence. He said he is not sure this concern is legitimate, because ultimately the choice is up to the Board. He said is a heads up to the advisory boards more fair to them than for them to submit a name and the Board to put its own people on and blindside them. He said from a good government standpoint, there is a triangle of Boards, Advisory Boards, and residents that are being reached out to. He noted the interest in gender, age, race, socio-economic diversity. He said it is easier for the Board of County Commissioners to help reach the diversity goal and he would be in favor of working more closely with the advisory board chairs and having better communication. He said the other issue and concern of his is the high number of vacancies on some of these boards. He noted that there was only one recommendation for boards that had two or more vacancies. He said that he thinks the Advisory Board Chairs should be instructed to fill those vacancies as quickly as possible. He referenced his experience of waiting a year to be placed on the Carrboro Economic Development Commission while knowing there were four vacancies. He said it wasn't a priority for the board and it turns citizens off who are interested. He said that it leads to boards that are more insular and clubby. He said he would like to encourage boards to bring forward as many applicants as possible. Chair Jacobs said he believed that if there are vacancies and there are applicants, they should be filled. He said that the better way to do it is to put boards on notice that if positions are not filled, an explanation should be given and, if needed, the Board of County Commissioners will fill them. He said this also gives the Clerk a chance to make sure applicants still reside in the county. Clerk to the Board Donna S. Baker said that many times applicants apply and then some boards take time to go through the due diligence process to make sure the person can attend the meetings and has the necessary availability. She said that many persons apply for a vacancy and then sit out there for a year. Once they are approached, they may not have availability. Often when contacted, people have an obstacle preventing them from filling the position. She said there is an effort to contact applicants on a regular basis to update their