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1 <br /> 1 Attachment 1 <br /> 2 <br /> 3 DRAFT <br /> 4 MINUTES <br /> 5 BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> 6 WORK SESSION <br /> 7 October 3, 2019 <br /> 8 8:00 p.m. <br /> 9 (following the Joint Meeting with the Fire Chiefs' Council) <br /> 10 <br /> 11 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met in a work session on Thursday, October <br /> 12 3, 2019 at 8:12 p.m., following the Joint Meeting with the Fire Chiefs' Council at the Whitted <br /> 13 Human Services Center in Hillsborough, N.C. <br /> 14 <br /> 15 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Penny Rich and Commissioners Jamezetta <br /> 16 Bedford, Mark Dorosin, Mark Marcoplos, and Renee Price <br /> 17 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Earl McKee, Sally Greene <br /> 18 COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT: John Roberts <br /> 19 COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Bonnie Hammersley, Deputy County <br /> 20 Manager Travis Myren, and Deputy Clerk Sherri Ingersoll (All other staff members will be <br /> 21 identified appropriately below.) <br /> 22 <br /> 23 Chair Rich called the meeting to order at 8:12 p.m. <br /> 24 <br /> 25 1. Discussion on Public Comments at BOCC Meetings <br /> 26 The Board met to discuss any potential changes to the Board's current framework regarding <br /> 27 public comments at BOCC meetings. <br /> 28 <br /> 29 BACKGROUND: <br /> 30 At the September 10, 2019 work session, the Board had a brief discussion related to public <br /> 31 comments occurring at work sessions. <br /> 32 <br /> 33 At the September 17, 2019 Regular Board Meeting, a request was made by a member of <br /> 34 the public that the Board consider providing the opportunity for public comments at all <br /> 35 BOCC meetings. <br /> 36 <br /> 37 North Carolina General Statute 153A-52.1 establishes a baseline for public comment at <br /> 38 BOCC meetings. The statute requires the BOCC to "provide at least one period for public <br /> 39 comment per month at a regular meeting of the board." Orange County far exceeds this <br /> 40 baseline and also exceeds what is provided by many other counties. <br /> 41 <br /> 42 The current Rules of Procedures for the Board of County Commissioners, Rule 9, "Public <br /> 43 Comment for Items not on the Printed Agenda", provides the opportunity for public comment <br /> 44 on any topic at the beginning of all Regular Meetings under Item #2. Speakers are required <br /> 45 to sign up to speak, and are allowed three minutes each after being recognized by the Chair <br /> 46 of the Board of Commissioners. <br /> 47 <br /> 48 The Rules of Procedure also include a comment stating: <br /> 49 "The board may decide as a matter of general policy to set aside part of each meeting for <br /> 50 individuals or groups to address the board. The rule allows any individual or group to get on <br /> 51 the agenda, but lets the board decide whether there is time to hear its comments." <br />