Orange County NC Website
28 <br />33 <br />meeting without being excused by majority vote of the remain- <br />ing members present, he or she shall be counted as present <br />for the purposes of determining whether a quorum is present. <br />The board may compel the attendance of an absent member <br />by ordering the sheriff to take the member into custody. <br />Comment: See G.S. 153A-43. Compelling the attendance of a <br />member by ordering the sheriff to take the person into custody i <br />an extraordinary remedy intended for use when a member obsti- <br />nately refuses to attend meetings for the purpose of preventing <br />action on a proposal. If the board contemplates using this power <br />it should give the absent members notice that their attendance i <br />required by the majority and may be compelled in this manner. <br /> Public hearings required by law or <br />Rule 28. Public Hearings. <br />deemed advisable by the board shall be advertised per legal re- <br />quirements and staff shall set forth the subject, date, place, and <br />time of the hearing as well as any rules regarding the length of <br />time allotted to each speaker and designating representatives to <br />speak for large groups. At the appointed time, the chair shall c <br />the hearing to order and preside over it. When the allotted time <br />expires, or earlier, if no one wishes to speak who has not done <br />the presiding officer shall entertain or make a motion to end th <br />hearing or adjourn the public hearing to another board meeting, <br />vote on the item. The board shall thereafter resume the regular <br />order of business. <br />Anyone wishing to speak during a public hearing must first pro- <br />vide his or her name and address to the clerk. <br />Comment: G.S. 153A-52 provides that public hearings may be <br />held anywhere within the county and gives the board authority to <br />adopt rules governing the hearings. <br /> A quorum of the board <br />Rule 29. Quorum at Public Hearings. <br />shall be required at all public hearings required by law. <br />Comment: G.S. 153A-52 implies that a quorum of governing board <br />members is necessary for a public hearing by providing that a <br />hearing shall be deferred to the next regular meeting if a quoru <br />is not present at the originally scheduled time. However, if the <br />board decided to hold a public hearing not required by law to <br />gather a consensus of public opinion on an issue, the hearing co <br />be held at several different sites, with a few members at each <br />site. <br /> <br />