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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 10-25-2011 - 3ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: October 25, 2011 Action Agenda Item No. SUBJECT: County Commissioners: Policy/Process Governing the Selection Process of BOCC Boards/Commissions Assignments DEPARTMENT: Board of Commissioners PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): Under Separate Cover Policy Governing the Selection Process of BOCC Boards/Commissions Assignments (2009 version) Excerpt of June 16, 2011 Approved Minutes INFORMATION CONTACT: Clerk's Office, 245-2130 PURPOSE: To discuss the policy/process governing the selection process of BOCC Boards/Commissions Assignments and revise as needed. BACKGROUND: BOCC members serve on various County and County-related boards and commissions. Annually, BOCC members indicate their desire to serve on specific boards/commissions and the Board approved the list of boards and commissions on which members of the Board of County Commissioners serve on February 1, 2011 (after discussion/informal selection on January 25, 2011) This issue was discussed again on June 16, 2011 at a Day Work Session and an excerpt of the minutes of this discussion are attached. FINANCIAL IMPACT: None. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Board will consider discussing/revising the current policy governing the selection for boards and commissions assignments. 2 Policy Governing the Selection Process of BOCC Boards/Commissions Assignments (2009 version) ^ Each BOCC member (veteran) shall chose two boards that they currently serve on that cannot be taken away by the other BOCC members. ^ Least senior members of the Board will choose two (2) boards on which to serve (suggestion is to do this alphabetically - by last name) ^ The round robin process of choosing boards/commissions shall begin, with the least senior BOCC members (alphabetically) choosing one board, and following with other board members, from least to senior member of the BOCC, choosing one board at a time ^ Round Robin will not include short-term taskforces (limited duration), ex- officio boards, and non-O:C. boards with BOCC in officer positions, (these also cannot be taken away by other BOCC members) ^ In regards to BOCC members attendance at any board/commission/taskforce meetings: o There shall not be any more than 2 BOCC members assigned to any one any board/commission/taskforce o Any third/fourth commissioner that attends any taskforce/staff work group meetings can only attend as a silent observer o In the event that 2 commissioners are assigned to any board/commission/taskforce meeting and one other commissioner is assigned as an alternate, that person (the alternate) can attend as a silent observer and only become a voting or participating member if one of the other assigned commissioners is not in attendance (Volunteer Resolution-# 9) 3 EXCERPT FROM THE JUNE 16. 2011 APPROVED BOCC MINUTES: 2. County Commissioners: Policy/Process Governing the Selection Process of BOCC Boards/Commissions Assignments Chair Pelissier said that many of the Board members wanted to revisit this item. She asked for suggestions from the County Commissioners. Policy Governing the Selection Process of BOCC Boards/Commissions Assignments (2009 version) - Each BOCC member (veteran) shall choose two boards that they currently serve on that cannot be taken away by the other BOCC members. - Least senior members of the Board will choose two boards on which to serve (suggestion is to do this alphabetically - by last name) - The round robin process of choosing boards/commissions shall begin, with the least senior BOCC members (alphabetically) choosing one board, and following with other board members, from least senior to most senior member of the BOCC, choosing one board at a time. - Round Robin will not include short-term taskforces (limited duration), ex- officio boards, and non-O. C. boards with BOCC in officer positions, (these also cannot be taken away by other BOCC members) - In regards to BOCC members attendance at any board/commission/task force meetings: o There shall not be any more than 2 BOCC members assigned to any one board/commission/task force o Any third/fourth commissioner that attends any task force/staff work group meetings can only attend as a silent observer o In the event that 2 Commissioners are assigned to any board/commission/task force meeting and one other Commissioner is assigned as an alternate, that person (the alternate) can attend as a silent observer and only become a voting or participating member if one of the other assigned Commissioners is not in attendance (Volunteer Resolution #9) Commissioner Gordon said that she did talk to Commissioner Foushee about this since Commissioner Foushee could not attend this meeting. She said that Commissioner Foushee said she liked the process they are currently using and would like to keep two boards because it allows the member to work on things in which the person has interest and knowledge. Commissioner Foushee thinks that a Board member should not be forced to take an assignment. Commissioner Gordon agreed with Commissioner Foushee's comments and her major reason is that members can work on things that they are passionate about and there is continuity and expertise. She likes the current process. Commissioner Yuhasz said that there is value in having continuity, but after a point reserving two boards for each Commissioner in perpetuity hinders other members 4 from indulging their passion if it coincides. He suggested putting a term limit on the number of consecutive years a Board member can reserve a particular board. Commissioner Jacobs agreed with Commissioner Yuhasz and he suggested one term in office, four years, and it should be retroactive for those serving, Commissioner Yuhasz said that the Board of Health is typically athree-year term and would be a reasonable term limit. Commissioner McKee said that he liked it this year but he had no prior experience and he respected other's areas. He said that there were plenty of boards to choose from and he did not feel shorted. Chair Pelissier said that with the decrease in the number of boards, it narrowed the pool. She said that if the County Commissioners keep two, then there is less to choose from. She said that she purposely only kept one and left more for others to choose from. Commissioner Gordon likes the current system but suggested that, as a compromise, one possibility would be for each member to only keep one board. She said that this affects her the most because she will lose one of the transportation boards. She said that the retroactive piece is not fair to the senior members. Commissioner Gordon said that she has heard three options: - Each County Commissioner keeps two boards (current system) - Retroactively limit the term to three years - Keep one board Chair Pelissier suggested narrowing this down to two options today. Commissioner Jacobs said that the current system is an improvement to what they had in the past. He made reference to the retroactive issue and said that he has been on this Board for 13 years and he has never had the opportunity to do transportation because Commissioner Gordon will not let go. He said that this is not fair because he has an interest too. He said that the more people that have knowledge of different things on the Board, the stronger the Board will be. Commissioner Yuhasz said that he appreciated Commissioner Cordon's concerns and he suggested choosing one board now, and be able to keep it for a term limit; and all else goes into the pot. Commissioner McKee asked about the time limits and Commissioner Yuhasz said that the one board would not be retroactive and the other board would be retroactive. Commissioner McKee said that he has a concern about doing afree-for-all. He said that a compromise would be to choose one and repeatedly choose one if there was a particular interest. Commissioner Yuhasz said that it does not seem fair for one Board member to hold on to a particular outside board for as long as they are in office. There should be turnover at some point. He would suggest putting a time limit on the number of years to ensure this turnover. Commissioner Gordon said that she does think they should have an opportunity to stay on a board for a long time, since otherwise she would never have been able to accomplish what she did for regional transportation. For example, she worked on the joint MPO Long Range Transportation Plan which won a national award not long ago. 5 She said that when Commissioner Jacobs came on the Board, she had three regional assignments and Commissioner Jacobs first said that he wanted Triangle Transit but then later said he wanted Triangle J Council of Governments. She said that she gave up TJCOG for Commissioner Jacobs so that he would have a chance to serve. Options: Commissioner McKee suggested that each Board member retain one committee without limits. All agreed to have this as one of the options. Commissioner Jacobs suggested that the other option be that each Board member has one committee with limits. Commissioner Gordon suggested that one option be to not change the process. Commissioner Yuhasz suggested an option that each Board member can keep two boards with limits. Commissioner Jacobs suggested that the limits of being on a committee should be within a County Commissioners' term so that there is some turnover. Commissioner Yuhasz suggested bringing this back to a work session with all in attendance. Commissioner Gordon made reference to the current policy for the selection process and the way it works for the veterans and the lease senior members. There needs to be more discussion about the first three bullets before figuring out the rest of the process. Chair Pelissier said that this would be put on a work session sometime this fall. Donna Baker said that before this gets put back on the agenda, she will send it out to all County Commissioners to be sure that everything is captured.