Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: April 5, 2022 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 8-e <br /> SUBJECT: Amendment to the Advisory Board Policy <br /> DEPARTMENT: County Attorney/Clerk <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> John Roberts, County Attorney, <br /> Section V Recommended Changes 919-245-2318 <br /> PURPOSE: To consider one substantive deletion from the Advisory Board Policy. <br /> BACKGROUND: The general Advisory Board Policy is a document that was created in 2012 <br /> after multiple meetings with two UNC School of Government consultants. Each term in the original <br /> policy originated from either the consultants or members of the Board of Commissioners ("Board"). <br /> During a recent review of the policy, one sentence stood out as problematic. The current language <br /> of this sentence is "Except for the Chair no member of the advisory board shall make any written <br /> or oral statement of any confidential matter to any individual, business, or agency." That language <br /> essentially authorizes the Chair of an advisory board to reveal confidential information to outside <br /> parties. <br /> There is no indication in the 2012 Board minutes why this language was added or by whom, but <br /> it may have originated as something perceived to be needed for economic development purposes. <br /> However, economic development advisory board members do not meet with business prospects. <br /> It is recommended this language be amended to delete the beginning of the sentence "Except for <br /> the Chair" and to clarify the remainder of the subsection that this prohibition applies to confidential <br /> County matters. The clarification would allow for discussions of confidential matters related to <br /> official county investigations such as personnel investigations. <br /> The only other clarification at this time is to delete the original subsection 1 as being repetitive. <br /> The same language related to the Chair serving as spokesperson for the advisory board is already <br /> found in Section IV. <br /> FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with this action. <br /> SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: There is no Orange County Social Justice Goal impact associated <br /> with this item. <br />