Agenda - 09-02-2021; 8-a - Minutes

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2 1 2 Arts Moment— No Arts Moment was available for this meeting. 3 4 2. Public Comments 5 a. Matters not on the Printed Agenda 6 None. 7 8 b. Matters on the Printed Agenda 9 (These matters will be considered when the Board addresses that item on the agenda 10 below.) 11 12 3. Announcements, Petitions and Comments by Board Members 13 Commissioner Bedford said she had no comments. 14 Commissioner Hamilton said she will pull consent item 8-m, the report on school facility 15 needs over the next 10 years. She said the schools have to submit this report to North Carolina 16 Department of Public Instruction (DPI). She said she wants to pull this item because the needs 17 total nearly $500 million over 10 years, and she thinks Commissioners need a plan to address 18 facility needs. She petitioned the Commissioners to set up a work group comprised of County 19 Commissioners, staff, schools board members and staff to create a long-term plan to address 20 these long neglected needs of school facilities. 21 Commissioner McKee said he enthusiastically supports Commissioner Hamilton's 22 petition as well. 23 24 Commissioner Dorosin arrived at 7:03 p.m. 25 26 Commissioner Fowler petitioned the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) to discuss 27 resuming in person local government meetings. She said she would like the Board and staff to 28 consider continuing to run work session meetings virtually, if there are no public hearings. She 29 said when meetings in person start, of which she is in favor, she would like to create a policy 30 and protocol for Commissioners and the public to participate virtually as needed, allowing for 31 greater flexibility and more resident access, more participation, less fuel, and saving of time. 32 She said Covid has offered some useful adaptations, which she would like to consider using, 33 post pandemic. 34 Chair Price said this petition will be discussed at Chair/Vice Chair review, and reminded 35 the BOCC that the state legislature controls how local governments can meet. 36 Commissioner McKee referred to the second line of the public charge, which states: 37 `those attending this meeting to conduct themselves in a respectful, courteous manner toward 38 each other, county staff and the commissioners." He said he attended an information session 39 yesterday about the Buckhorn Area Plan, and was disheartened by comments made toward and 40 about professional staff. He said he considers elected officials to be open game, but does not 41 find derogatory comments made to, or about, professional staff to be acceptable. He said he 42 hopes people would take heed to this, and be more amenable going forward. He referred to 43 Commissioner Fowler's comment about public meetings, and believes public business should 44 be conducted in the public house. He petitioned for the last two public meetings of the year to 45 be held in person at Whitted, which is large enough to accommodate social distancing. 46 Commissioner Greene extended condolences to Chair Price for the loss of her father. 47 Commissioner Dorosin also expressed sympathies to Chair Price. 48 Chair Price said the Elections Advisory Group requested an extension to produce their 49 report, from July 31St until August 151h. She said it seems reasonable since the BOCC will not 50 be meeting during this time. 51 There was consensus amongst Commissioners to grant this extension.