Minutes 01-16-2026 - Retreat - Laserfiche WebLink

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33 Chair Hamilton said when she first started as a commissioner, it was not clear to her. She said it is not clear in the Rules of Procedure. She said having this discussion will help her and future Chairs. Commissioner Carter said the current language is maximally flexible. Commissioner McKee said he would prefer not formalizing it to the point that it is inflexible. He said this Board is cooperative, but it could be a problem in the future. Chair Hamilton said this Board gets a long pretty well. She said the goal is to put down what they are already doing. Commissioner Greene said with previous Boards, there were several requests from individual commissioners to staff. She said her memory is that they agreed that if it took a staff member more than an hour on the request, then it would need to go to the full Board for a vote. Commissioner McKee said she was correct in her memory. Commissioner Bedford also agreed with Commissioner Greene's recollection. She said Greg Wilder keeps track of all petitions for commissioners to review. Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked if she needs to make a motion to add something to the agenda if she should do it during commissioner comment time. Commissioner McKee said she could do it at any time, and there is no prohibition. He said the most collegial way is to do so during commissioner comment time. Commissioner Bedford said it would be best to it at that time and not in the middle of another agenda item, although technically they could. Commissioner Greene said in the Suggested Rules of Procedure for Boards of County Commissioners published by UNC School of Government, motions do not require a second for small boards. She said she did not want to suggest changing the rule for Orange County, but it was something to think about. Vice-Chair Fowler said she thought a second was required for discussion. Commissioner Greene said not according to the document from the School of Government. John Roberts clarified in the Orange County Board of Commissioners Rules of Procedures, rule 14 requires a second for motions. Vice-Chair Fowler stated that if a local board has rules, they must follow them. John Roberts said that was correct. Commissioner Greene said that she was pointing out that they don't have to have that rule. She noted that commissioners can also be compelled to attend meetings, and that a Sheriff can take an absent member into custody. Commissioner McKee observed that an absence could be used strategically. Chair Hamilton said she plans to formalize the petition process in the Rules of Procedure because it is important for commissioners to know what happens once they've made a petition. She said that the Chair will make sure the petitioner receives a response in a timely fashion. Commissioner Carter said petitions appear in the agenda packets. Commissioner Bedford said there is a live document that shows the result of past petitions and that she emailed the link to the Board. At 12:19 p.m., a motion was made by Commissioner Carter, seconded by Commissioner McKee, to recess for lunch until 1:15 p.m. VOTE: UNANIMOUS A motion was made by Vice-Chair Fowler, seconded by Commissioner Carter, to reconvene the meeting at 1:15 p.m. VOTE: UNANIMOUS