Orange County NC Website
21 <br /> F. OTHER COMMUNICATION DEVICES <br /> 1. Citizens' Guide <br /> The staff should develop for Board approval a citizens' guide to accessing the public process. <br /> This will take a citizen step-by-step through such matters as the ground rules for a public <br /> hearing, a rezoning, and a special use permitting process. The emphasis will be on helping an <br /> individual, neighborhood or citizens' group to improve its understanding of the public process <br /> and how to navigate it. <br /> 2. Meeting Protocols <br /> Presentations at BOCC meetings should be improved to ensure that the public may see displays <br /> and view pertinent information along with the Commissioners. It is important to make sure that <br /> Commissioners' meetings are intelligible to citizens in attendance. The Commissioners may also <br /> wish to obtain information or advice concerning additional strategies to improve <br /> communications at meetings or hearings, both for the citizens in attendance and for the television <br /> audience. <br /> 3. Information Inserts <br /> The staff should develop for Board approval appropriate information inserts for tax bill and tax <br /> abstract mailings, as well as for monthly automobile tax mailings. The content for the inserts <br /> should complement other communication methods used by the County, and should be <br /> coordinated through the Manager's office and/or the Clerk's office. <br /> 4. Communication with County Employees <br /> a. The staff should develop a plan for Board approval to enhance Board communication with <br /> County employees. This plan could include a column written by the information specialist on <br /> behalf of the Board in the employee newsletter, Orange Alive, detailing recent decisions and <br /> policies of particular interest. Since County employees are ambassadors for the government, <br /> sharing information with them will also further public outreach. <br /> b. The plan also could include a Board site on the Intranet that provides an interactive forum <br /> whereby employees could pass along questions, suggestions, comments, and concerns, either <br /> anonymously or with identification. <br /> G. CRISIS MANAGEMENT <br /> The County Manager's office and Clerk's office should formulate for Board approval an action <br /> plan for communications between and among county departments, other governmental agencies, <br /> the media, and the public in times of crisis, such as natural disasters, evacuations and other <br /> emergency situations. <br />