Minutes 06-23-2022 Retreat - Laserfiche WebLink

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30 Commissioner Bedford said adjusting the timing could help. She suggested that instead of two budget work sessions where department report out, they could hear from a couple of departments once a month with an update so it's spread across the year and they would know what's coming. She said this would essentially be planning a calendar of work session topics, which she views as different than the rolling calendar. She said the report from departments during budget work sessions is not effective. She said the Board has been getting quarterly reports from finance which has been helpful and would like to have some more detailed overviews of departments like this. She said she sometimes thinks the Board would be higher performing if they spent more time discussing topics at a work session and then voted on them at a business meeting. Lydian Altman said she is trying to think of how to capture this in a higher level phrase for next steps. Commissioner Richards said this makes her think of the quote "culture eats strategy for breakfast". She said some of what they are talking about is really the higher level around culture and expectations. She said if operation is centered around culture then strategy and the business plan then supports that. Lydian Altman said the higher level is not only the strategies they hope to get from this conversation around planning but also execution. She said a key word might be integration. Commissioner Fowler said she thinks the Board would like to be better informed before making a decision. She said if the Board has the opportunity to see an item more times, like at a work session and then at a business meeting, they can be better informed and also think about it more. She said people have different styles of thinking. Commissioner Bedford said she agrees with that. She said on big decisions she needs to have a couple of days to consider and think about it. Commissioner Greene said there was a similar practice when she was on the Chapel Hill Town Council. Commissioner Bedford said when an item comes up they need more time on they can ask to delay it in the meeting. Chair Price said it's interesting to hear this because the Board has been accused of taking too long to make a decision. She said it gets back to how each Board wants to operate. She said the Board can delay something at any time unless it is something that is time sensitive. She said maybe that needs to be a reminder to them. She said there is also the issue of just familiarity with the issues, because some items are repeats but a newer commissioner will not be as familiar. Commissioner Hamilton said the issue of delaying an item is more about culture than rules. She said knowing they can be comfortable asking to delay is important. She said determining which topics and issues to discuss and when can be driven by a strategic plan, so that's another benefit. Chair Price said part of the culture is communication between them all and being comfortable bringing a topic forward for discussion. She added that she and Commissioner Bedford set the agenda with staff and have to weigh priority items with the amount of time meetings will take. Commissioner Bedford said another positive on this Board is that no one uses Robert's Rules of Order to shut anyone down. Lydian Altman summarized the discussion the Board had above based on her notes including: • Following good board management practices during meetings • Timing and content of retreat to determine board culture, expectations, and operating principles