Agenda - 05-14-2013 - 4 - Laserfiche WebLink

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K Commissioner Dorosin said that it should be made clear during orientation that they are not trying to constrain free speech. He said it should be clear that there is an absolute right to speak and identify yourself and your community activities and board memberships, but there should be a disclaimer that you are not speaking on behalf of a particular advisory board. Frank Clifton said for the newer board members that there are a couple of statutory boards that this does not apply to, i.e. Board of Health, Social Services, who have official capacity versus advisory capacity. Commissioner Rich said that often people will tell where they are from but will then designate they are speaking for themselves. She said that it is key that people be allowed to express their opinion as a citizen, not an advisory board member. Commissioner Dorosin specified that the citizen should be allowed to disclose their involvements, as it may reveal why they are knowledgeable about the issue. Commissioner McKee said the issue is not that they don't speak, but that it be specified they speak as an individual. He said he has no problem with anyone saying anything to any advisory board, provided it is not disparaging an individual or board, as long as they are speaking for themselves. He noted that to mention a planning board membership as a background statement is different than claiming to speak as a planning board member. 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