Orange County NC Website
13 <br /> 1 The Board conducted a review of the Orange County Board of County Commissioners Advisory <br /> 2 Board Policy (Advisory Board Policy). <br /> 3 <br /> 4 BACKGROUND: The Advisory Board Policy was adopted February 21, 2012, and included a <br /> 5 provision that the Board of Commissioners would conduct a periodic review of the policy every <br /> 6 five (5) years. While various portions of the Advisory Board Policy have been amended since <br /> 7 that time based on staff recommendations, a full review and discussion of the policy has not <br /> 8 been conducted by the Board. <br /> 9 <br /> 10 The current version of the Advisory Board Policy is included as Attachment A. <br /> 11 <br /> 12 Attachment B includes suggested amendments by Clerk's Office staff. Noteworthy suggestions <br /> 13 include: <br /> 14 • Changing the periodic review period from every five (5) to every two (2) years. <br /> 15 • Updating the list of boards and commissions to which the policy applies. <br /> 16 • Clarifying the role of recommendations received from advisory boards. <br /> 17 • Removing the ability of an advisory board member to continue serving one year past <br /> 18 their term expiration date. <br /> 19 • Requiring a majority vote by the Board to remove an advisory board member. <br /> 20 • Removing reference to unexcused absences related to attendance requirements of <br /> 21 advisory board members. <br /> 22 • Allowing remote meetings of advisory boards subject to this policy at all times, not only <br /> 23 during a declared State of Emergency. <br /> 24 <br /> 25 Attachment C includes information on all of the boards to which the Board of Commissioners <br /> 26 makes appointments, including the type of board, board descriptions, composition <br /> 27 requirements, any special appointment or recommendation requirements, term lengths and <br /> 28 limits, and the relevant policies. <br /> 29 <br /> 30 Deputy Clerk to the Board Tara May introduced the item and reviewed information in the <br /> 31 abstract. <br /> 32 Commissioner Bedford noted that she had found a few typos in the policy. <br /> 33 Tara May reviewed one of the typos for the Board: <br /> 34 Page 21, section 4(b), the end of the sentence should read "advisory boards" instead of <br /> 35 "Orange County Board of Commissioners." <br /> 36 Commissioner Richards said she appreciated the suggested amendments but that she is <br /> 37 trying to figure out the role of recommendations from the advisory boards. She said she has <br /> 38 spoken with advisory board members that believe they have the final say. She said she thinks it <br /> 39 is important for them to be very clear on this. <br /> 40 Chair Price said the Board should decide what their preference is. She said it has <br /> 41 changed over the years. <br /> 42 Commissioner Richards said it is not just people or members, but any recommendation <br /> 43 that comes out of an advisory board. She said there should be clarity. <br /> 44 Chair Price said their role is to advise. <br /> 45 Commissioner Hamilton said it is a recommendation, but that the Board has the <br /> 46 accountability for it. <br /> 47 Commissioner Bedford said that is helpful. <br /> 48 Commissioner Hamilton said they do want recommendations, but it should be clear that <br /> 49 it is a recommendation. <br />