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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: June 2, 2020 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 6-c <br /> SUBJECT: Amendments to the Advisory Board Policy <br /> DEPARTMENT: Clerk to the Board/County <br /> Attorney <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> John Roberts, County Attorney, 919- <br /> Draft Policy 245-2313 <br /> PURPOSE: To consider one clarification to the advisory board policy and potentially allow <br /> remote meetings of advisory boards. <br /> BACKGROUND: On March 13, 2020 the Board Chair declared a State of Emergency in <br /> Orange County ("Declaration") related to the national emergency created by the Corona Virus <br /> Disease 2019 pandemic. At that time the Chair directed all Orange County advisory and other <br /> boards to cease in-person meetings to reduce chances of virus transmission. The Orange <br /> County Board of Commissioners Advisory Board Policy ("Policy") does not allow remote <br /> meetings. This restriction was included by the Board during the creation of the Policy to <br /> encourage members of advisory boards to actually attend meetings rather than attending by <br /> teleconference. Recently members of the Board have expressed an interest in removing this <br /> restriction. <br /> There is also language included allowing individual members to attend meetings remotely when <br /> they are unable to be physically present for a regularly scheduled meeting. Further the County <br /> Attorney noticed a technical inconsistency in the Policy and made a minor change that <br /> specifically includes three quasi-judicial boards in the ethics and limitations sections of the <br /> Policy. These three boards are left out of the remote meetings sections based on due process <br /> concerns with conducting quasi-judicial hearings remotely. <br /> All proposed language is included in the draft and the Board may change or reject all, including <br /> the technical correction mentioned above, and should discuss any other options the Board may <br /> wish to consider. <br /> Option 1 — leave in place the restrictions on remote meetings. <br /> Option 2 — leave the general restriction on remote meetings in place for advisory boards, but <br /> specifically authorize the Manager to allow a remote meeting for an advisory board when a <br /> meeting is immediately necessary to further County business. <br />