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14 16 <br /> Comment: Because of the increased volume and complexity of <br /> the matters they must consider,nearly all boards use an agenda. <br /> Some boards use an agenda only to organize the material they <br /> must consider and to give themselves an opportunity to study <br /> the issues before they meet.These boards generally allow last- <br /> minute additions to the agenda by general consent. This rule <br /> takes that approach. Other boards use their agenda to control <br /> the length of their meetings. Often a board that uses its agenda <br /> for this purpose will hold a work session before the business <br /> meeting to ask questions and thoroughly explore the proposals <br /> that must be voted on at the business meeting.Generally these <br /> boards take a stricter approach and do not allow late additions <br /> to the agenda unless an emergency exists. <br /> Rule 9.Public Comments-Items Not on the Printed Agenda. <br /> The County Manager shall include on the agenda of each business <br /> meeting a time for comments or questions from members of the <br /> public in attendance. The chair will first recognize individuals or <br /> groups who have signed up to be heard, and then may recognize <br /> others, subject to available time. Speakers will be allowed three <br /> minutes each up to an hour total. After the hour set aside for <br /> public comments has expired, the chair will recognize further <br /> speakers only upon motion duly made and adopted. As noted above <br /> public comment is not accepted at work sessions but only at <br /> business meetings. North Carolina law requires local <br /> governments to schedule one public comment period at one <br /> regular meeting one time per month. Orange County far exceeds <br /> this mandate and schedules a public comment period at all of its <br /> business meetings during which the public may comment on any <br /> topic. Further, the public is invited to comment separately on <br /> each item on a business meeting agenda. <br /> Petitions/Resolutions/Proclamations and other similar requests <br /> submitted by the public will not be acted upon by the Board of <br /> Commissioners at the time presented. All such requests will be <br /> referred for Chair/Vice-Chair/Manager review and for <br /> recommendations to the full board at a later date regarding a) <br /> consideration of the request at a future business meeting; or b) <br /> receipt of the request as information only. Submittal of <br /> information to the board or receipt of information by the board does <br /> not constitute approval, endorsement, or consent. <br /> Comment:The board may decide as a matter of general policy <br /> to set aside part of each meeting for individuals or groups to <br /> address the board.The rule allows any individual or group to <br />