Minutes 11-10-2022 Work Session - Laserfiche WebLink

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14 Commissioner Hamilton said they do want recommendations, but it should be clear that it is a recommendation. Commissioner Bedford said when they had the Human Rights Commission, it feels like a clique can form if the same people are picking the same people. Commissioner Hamilton agreed and said that she is saying the same thing. Chair Price said that one reason they increased the discussion of appointees was to increase the diversity of the boards. Commissioner Bedford said on page 84 it says that the Orange County Board of Commissioners may elect to interview applicants for certain advisory boards. She said that OWASA is not an advisory board, but they do appoint two representatives to the Board. She asked if they are allowed to be interviewed. Tara May said that OWASA is not a board that the policy would apply to. She said she is unsure if OWASA’s policy would allow for that. James Bryan said that for boards that aren’t created by the county, they would be under the jurisdiction of the rules for that entity. Commissioner Bedford said that for the OWASA board she feels that they should have a more in-depth background process with them. Chair Price asked why. Commissioner Bedford said they have very good people now. She said that one was on the Commission for the Environment that did not work out even though she spoke to them to figure out what they were qualified for. She said she must not have been asking the right questions. She said that it’s a really important board and that the application could be changed, and the commissioners could consider interviewing them. Commissioner Greene said prior to the current form, OWASA had a specific form. She said that Chapel Hill sets up a subcommittee to interview their OWASA applicants. Chair Price said that with the Planning Board, commissioners might call up the applicants and speak with them. Commissioner Bedford asked if Tara May could check with other communities on what their application and process is for OWASA Board Members. Chair Price said that OWASA is not included in this policy but that she could still request information about the other jurisdictional processes. Chair Price asked if some boards still have 2–3-year terms. Tara May said that was existing but moved to under the “Term” section. She said the Adult Care Home Advisory Committee is separate, and has different terms and is different from advisory boards. Commissioner Fowler asked about the partial term appointment language. Tara May said that is existing language and had not been amended. Commissioner Greene asked for clarification because she thought they had appointed people to partial terms and indicated that they would still be available for two full term appointments. Tara May said that if she is referring to the Opioid Committee, the actual date of the term of their appointment falls within the existing language and is less than 12 months for the initial partial term appointment. Chair Price asked when this would be voted upon. Tara May said a meeting in December Chair Price asked if it could come back on a consent agenda. Commissioner Bedford said she supported the suggested changes and would support it next week. Commissioner Greene agreed with Commissioner Bedford.