Orange County NC Website
7 <br /> <br />Commissioner Greene said she appreciated the thought, and this is an emotional issue <br />for many. She said she does not want people to feel unheard, but also appreciates <br />Commissioner Marcoplos’ comments about work sessions being an opportunity to really work <br />and needing even more work sessions. She suggested an idea that came up in a Board in <br />another jurisdiction, which decided to allow ten minutes at the beginning and end of the work <br />session for public comment. <br />Commissioner Bedford had no comments. <br />Commissioner Price said she is leaning toward the hybrid; and spreading the <br />conversation out over various meetings can stifle real discussion. She said she liked <br />Commissioner Greene’s proposal, and she would be inclined to suspend the rules at this time. <br />Commissioner Bedford said the school board does its agendas differently, with most <br />items coming at a work session with public comment before or after a presentation. <br />Commissioner Bedford said the Board should not be in the mode of changing the rules, <br />based on the intensity of a topic; but rather the rule should be made and stuck to. She said she <br />would not want to suspend the rules this time, but would be open to discussing a change for all <br />meetings at a later time. <br />Chair Rich agreed with Commissioner Marcoplos, and said opening discussion before or <br />after a work session allows people to talk about items that are not part of the work session. She <br />said the Board does not have enough time in work sessions, and she would like to keep work <br />sessions as work sessions. She said she is in favor of a public hearing if the Board has an <br />ordinance change. She said this topic got twisted due to an inaccurate post on social media. <br />Commissioner Price said people did speak about noise, and that was put out in the <br />public as a topic for BOCC discussion. She said there were some comments about taking away <br />rights, which were not true. <br />Commissioner Marcoplos said he appreciates the impulse to compromise, but it is <br />confusing to change the rules. He said the public knows when the Board has public comment, <br />and the Board should stick with established procedures. <br />Commissioner Greene said all work sessions are open to the public, and she is willing to <br />limit all public comment at work sessions to the end of the meeting; but if that is not the will of <br />the Board, the public can still come to a work session, pay close attention, and then email the <br />Board of County Commissioners afterwards. <br />Commissioner McKee said the Board cannot regulate social media, and his intent with <br />this petition was to address some concerns as to what was going on. He said most residents <br />got information from other sources, and his sole intent in allowing public comment on <br />September 10th is to make sure that the public gets the right information. He said the <br />Commissioners serve at the will of the public. <br /> <br />A motion was made by Commissioner McKee, seconded by Commissioner Price to hold <br />public comment at the end on September 10th work session, after the County Attorney’s <br />presentation and Board discussion, with a one-hour time limit. <br /> <br />Commissioner Greene asked if there would be a time limit on public comment. <br />Commissioner McKee said one hour. <br />Chair Rich asked John Roberts if the BOCC will be voting on any decisions at the work <br />session. <br />John Roberts said no vote will be taken, and there will be a presentation of examples of <br />how what something could work, and the BOCC will be asked to give direction to staff to study <br />this further and/or ask Planning staff to come up with actual numbers. He said the BOCC will <br />not pass any ordinances at the work session. <br />Commissioner Price said she does not support an hour of time, as that seems a bit <br />indulgent.