BEAG Meeting Summary 022521 - Laserfiche WebLink

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potentially establish a threshold higher than a simple majority for Group decisions; the need for transparency; concerns related to the North/South issue and Chapel Hill influence and Hillsborough influence; and a desire to avoid any potential bias that staff might have. A question arose about how the Group should make decisions on a temporary basis until a potential facilitator could lead the Group through a discussion on voting thresholds for decision-making. County Attorney Roberts noted that the Board of Commissioners' adopted Advisory Board Policy outlined that decisions by advisory boards occurred by simple majority approval, but the Policy did not apply to this Group. He suggested that the Group could consider a higher threshold if it wished. It was noted that the County and the Board of Commissioners itself had utilized facilitators from the Dispute Settlement Center, the UNC School of Government and other entities. Group Member Patrick Mulkey expressed hesitancy with a facilitator as he expected there would not be consensus and there would potentially be split votes on recommendations. Group Members Kathy Arab, Jennifer Bremer and Nathan Boucher expressed interest in pursuing a facilitator. The Group subsequently voted 11-3 to ask staff to work with the County Manager to pursue a facilitator for future Group meetings, hopefully beginning with the March 25, 2021 Group meeting. After some additional discussion of the County's Advisory Board Policy, Group Member Brian Crawford recommended that the Group adopt the County's Advisory Board Policy as a temporary operating policy to conduct business until a facilitator could assist the Group with a potential alternative framework. Group Member Dr. Krishna Mondal seconded, and the Group voted 11-3 to approve, with Group Member Lisa Hazirjian noting an uncomfortableness with voting for something not yet seen. 5. Potential Establishment of Specific Meeting Date & Time Mr. Wilder noted that the current meeting was occurring on the 4th Thursday of the month at 7:00 pm. He wondered if that day and time might be amenable to the Group to establish as a standard meeting schedule. Group Member Jaazaniah Catterall motioned that the Group establish the 4th Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm as its standard meeting date and time. Group Member Jenn Sykes seconded, and the Group voted to approve unanimously. 6. Discussion on and Potential Election of Group Co-Chairs — One from District 1 and One from District 2 Mr. Wilder noted that the Board of Commissioners had directed that the Group elect two Co-Chairs, one from the current District 1 electoral area in the County and one from the