Minutes-10-10-2023-Joint Meeting with Fire Departments and Work Session

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18 Commissioner Fowler summarized the meeting discussion up to this point so that Commissioner Greene could be brought to speed. Commissioner Greene said she doesn't think the group should exist at all. She said that if it does exist at all, it should only be for the Greene Tract only. She said that the MMC had a conversation about the Partnership to End Homelessness when there are already four elected officials on that Board. She said that the conversation should have been brought to that group. She said she liked the fact that many years ago, the Assembly of Governments used to meet quarterly. She said she might be open to the MMC continuing if it is only for the Greene Tract and if it is open to the public and recorded. Commissioner Richards said she asked earlier about the need for the opportunity to talk about items in meetings of all of the elected boards. She said she wondered if meeting more than once per year would be more helpful. She said that she was unaware that the Assembly of Governments used to meet quarterly. Commissioner Greene said that the idea of a housing collaborative was brought up during an Assembly of Governments meeting. Chair Bedford said the Solid Waste Advisory Group is also a group of elected officials that meet. Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked why it changed from 4 times a year to 1 time a year. Bonnie Hammersley said when she came it was only twice a year. She said that she thinks it changed because there were some personalities that were affecting it and sometimes people were not showing up. She said that it depends on who is in leadership and if they want to do that or not. Vice-Chair McKee arrived at 8:30 p.m. Chair Bedford said she heard consensus that the MMC should only meet regarding the Greene Tract. She said that initially she was opposed to recording the meeting, but she has changed her mind. She said that it is a risk of going around the board and the public does not have full access. She asked if there was any downside to making the meetings open. Commissioner Hamilton said no. Chair Bedford said she did not think so either because the public is entitled to know and that members of the MMC have different opinions. Commissioner Greene said that if the rationale for the MMC was because the Assembly of Governments were too unwieldy then it makes sense that it would be a public meeting because it is a stand-in for the Assembly of Governments. Commissioner Hamilton said if it was related to a closed session topic then it would not be open to the public but if not, there is no reason not to have it open. Commissioner Fowler asked if it would be public so people could hear but that no decisions would be made. Chair Bedford said yes and that no decisions would be made. Commissioner Greene asked if it would be recorded. Chair Bedford said it could be, but it does not have to be. She said if it is a public meeting then they have to have minutes but not a recording. Commissioner Greene said if it is going to be public then it is easy enough to put a recording machine in there. She said if she cannot be there, she would like to hear everything that was said. Chair Bedford said that if there is a recording then they could get that to the Clerk separately from the facilitators for creating minutes. Laura Jensen said the transcriptionist could be asked if they would be open to doing that and if so, a contract amendment would be required.