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