Agenda 12-06-21; 8-a - Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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18 1 A motion was made by Commissioner Richards, seconded by Commissioner Fowler, to 2 move November 2 meeting to November 4; hold the November 11 work session in person at the 3 Whitted Building; and hold the November 16 Business meeting and two business meetings in 4 December virtually. 5 6 Roll call ensued 7 8 VOTE: Ayes, 6 (Commissioner Bedford, Commissioner Fowler, Commissioner Greene, 9 Commissioner Hamilton, Commissioner Richards, Chair Price); Nays, 1 (Commissioner 10 McKee) 11 12 e. Approval of Board of Commissioners Meeting Calendar for Year 2022 13 The Board considered approval of the meeting schedule for the Board of Commissioners 14 for calendar year 2022. 15 16 BACKGROUND: 17 In accordance with North Carolina General Statute 143-318.12, a schedule of regular meetings 18 shall be filed with the Clerk to the Board of County Commissioners. The schedule must show 19 the date, time, and place of each meeting. 20 21 Commissioner McKee said he is sorry to sound like a broken record, but there is no 22 excuse to not be in person in January, otherwise the kids should not be in school. 23 Commissioner Fowler said she takes Commissioner McKee's point, but it would be nice 24 to see what happens with COVID in the winter, given how the Delta variant changed things in 25 the summer. She asked if this calendar has to be voted on tonight, or if it was approved, could 26 it be changed. 27 Laura Jensen said the calendar is usually approved at this time, and it is important for 28 departments that schedule public hearings, etc. with Commissioners. She said it would be good 29 to have the dates established for the meetings tonight, and the locations can be changed at any 30 time. She said this is all predicated on whether or not Governor extends state of emergency 31 past November. She said if the calendar is approved as recommended with the first three 32 months of the year virtual, she may have to come back to the Board in early January anyway to 33 change all locations to in person. She said it is always a possibility to change location and date 34 so long as she can provide sufficient public notice. 35 Commissioner Greene said she had the same question as Commissioner Fowler. She 36 said she does not know why a decision has to be made night, and the County has never been in 37 COVID before, and she wonders if staff can bear with Commissioners and live with uncertainty 38 as Commissioners are doing. She said she is very supportive of the retreat being in person, but 39 does not know why decisions have to be made tonight about January and February. 40 Chair Price asked if the Board can just approve the dates for the time being. 41 Commissioner Richards said she is wondering the same thing. 42 Commissioner Greene said she thought the question was whether to be virtual or not. 43 Chair Price said in approving the calendar, the Board is deciding the dates. 44 Commissioner Greene asked if the dates can be approved without deciding whether 45 they are virtual or not. 46 Laura Jensen said state law requires the Board to fix the date, time, and location of all of 47 its meetings. She said if the Board decides not to establish a location at this time, staff would 48 likely bring this item back at first business meeting in December for a decision. She said either 49 way, a change will have to be made. She said staff can certainly live with uncertainty and have 50 gotten used to that. She said staff will make whatever the Board wants work.