BOCC to optimize meetings

County Commissioners are looking to make the most of their public sessions by balancing efficiency with openness to public input.

The Orange County Board of Commissioners discussed Tuesday ways to increase efficiency and streamline communication between board members and county staff.

""I think we should hear people" but I don't think we should hear the same message" said Chairwoman Valerie Foushee.

Comments sometimes prevent the board, which handles an annual operating budget of more than $170 million, from getting through the entire meeting agenda.

The board is considering preventing speakers from talking about issues they had talked about at previous meetings.

Commissioner Barry Jacobs said he approves of this proposal for budget public hearings, of which there are only two each year, but not for regular meetings.

At public budget meetings, many people show up twice to say the same things, he said.

But at regular meetings, he said, people's opinions on particular issues may evolve, and they should be able to voice their concerns more than once.

The commissioners also discussed limiting public comment at regular meetings to one hour.

Residents have expressed concern that the new provisions would restrict the amount of public input reaching commissioners.

Commissioners referred the comments to staff and will decide on measures at a later meeting.

The commissioners spent much of the evening discussing transparency and public accessibility to board affairs.

The cable station's not working" said Commissioner Pam Hemminger. People just can't find out what's going on at our meetings" and that's not good.""

Broadcasting recorded board meetings online might be a promising way of getting information to the public" said Commissioner Steve Yuhasz.

Commissioner Alice Gordon suggested simpler means of transparency: completing and posting meeting agendas on time releasing news on issues that are controversial or complicated and issuing meeting summaries.

Interim possibilities in hand

The county has four possible candidates for an interim county manager who would replace Laura Blackmon

 Blackmon is stepping down in June.

The board will go into closed session April 20 to discuss the candidates.

The commissioners are working on a profile for what they would like from a new permanent manager. Representatives from the consulting firm conducting the search say it will then take about 110 days.



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