Minutes 06-23-2022 Retreat - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

35 Lydian Altman asked if there is support for spreading departmental updates across the year and a planning an in-service or training for the Board as Commissioner Bedford mentioned before. Commissioner Richards said she likes the idea of planning in-services. She said this Board really wants full information, so that might be the answer, even if it isn't mandatory. She said it could also be open to the public for those who want to learn more about county departments and operations. Commissioner Fowler said she would prefer this to be part of a work session instead of staff wasting time and only one commissioner coming. Lydian Altman said she's hearing support for this, but the Board can revisit spreading out departmental updates at another time. She read from the breakout notes and asked how much earlier the Board would like to receive agenda packets for adequate preparation. Commissioner Hamilton said at least a couple of days earlier would be helpful. Commissioner Richards said even if they couldn't get slides earlier, having background information earlier would be helpful. Chair Price said it would be great to agenda packets earlier, but she knows from staff that there are a lot of pieces that come into play about how soon they are able to be sent out. Lydian Altman said the culture of this Board is they like to be well-informed. Commissioner Bedford said she was happy to push to get packets on Thursdays, but she doesn't really look at them until Sunday night, so it wouldn't matter to her, but she is in support if it would help others. Commissioner Greene said the earlier the agenda gets to them, the more last minute changes there may be from staff because things are happening in real time. Commissioner Hamilton said knowing what happens at Chair/Vice-Chair agenda review would give the rest of the Board a heads up about what they will see in the published agenda packet. Chair Price and Commissioner Bedford said that is doable, but she also added that there are sometimes changes between when the Chair and Vice-Chair approve an agenda and publication. Commissioner Hamilton suggested that an online posting of petitions, resolutions, and rolling calendar to help efficiently get information out. Lydian Altman asked if this would be internal to the Board or publicly accessible also. Commissioner Hamilton said it could be publically facing, but would be a tool for the Board. Chair Price said she thinks all of that can be done. Commissioner Hamilton also suggested the Board limit time on non-decision making issues like proclamations. Commissioner Hamilton said if they spend too much time on these types of items at the beginning, they are not as fresh by the end of the meeting for decision- making. She also suggested limiting the time for speakers on these items to two minutes. Commissioner Bedford said Chapel Hill really limits their proclamations now if there isn't someone present to receive it. She agreed the agenda needs to be tightened up. She said she also doesn't think they need to do all of the proclamations they do for special days. Chair Price said she has concerns about tightening it too much because the Board represents the community and if the community wants to request a proclamation, the Board should respond to them appropriately. She said she thinks the Board should be accommodating if it's important to someone in the community. Lydian Altman said she thinks there is a way to honor that sentiment, but still streamline the process.