Orange County NC Website
<br />ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: September 10, 2020 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 3 <br /> <br />SUBJECT: Discussion Regarding the Membership Composition of the Planned Committee <br />to Examine the Election Method for Members of the Orange County Board of <br />Commissioners <br /> <br />DEPARTMENT: County Attorney & County <br />Manager <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br /> <br />Excerpt from May 5, 2020 Virtual <br />Business Meeting Minutes <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> John Roberts, County Attorney, 245- <br />2318 <br /> Greg Wilder, County Manager’s Office, <br />245-2300 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />PURPOSE: To discuss the membership composition of the planned committee to be appointed <br />to make recommendations on the election method for members of the Orange County Board of <br />Commissioners. <br /> <br />BACKGROUND: At the Board of Commissioners’ April 7, 2020 Virtual Business meeting, a <br />petition was voiced that the Board discuss and potentially change a portion of the process <br />under which some or all Board members are elected. <br /> <br />The Board subsequently discussed the issue at its May 5, 2020 Virtual Business meeting and <br />voted to: <br />1) Establish a committee to study alternative methods of election; <br />2) Select members for the committee no later than January 31, 2021; <br />3) Have the committee review options and report back by July 31, 2021; and <br />4) For the Board to review the recommendations, and if necessary conduct public hearings <br />and make a decision in time for the March 2022 primary election. <br /> <br />CURRENT CONSIDERATION <br /> <br />This item is presented for the Board to discuss the membership composition of the proposed <br />committee. During the May 5th meeting, there was discussion that the group should consist of <br />experts, residents, nonprofits, etc., but there was not consensus. There was, however, <br />consensus that the Board of Commissioners, as constituted after December 7, 2020 should <br />decide on the ultimate individual appointees to the committee. <br /> <br />Staff seeks direction from the Board on: <br />• the total number of members the committee should include; <br />1