HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda 04-05-22; 8-e - Amendment to the Advisory Board Policy 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: April 5, 2022
Action Agenda
Item No. 8-e
SUBJECT: Amendment to the Advisory Board Policy
DEPARTMENT: County Attorney/Clerk
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
John Roberts, County Attorney,
Section V Recommended Changes 919-245-2318
PURPOSE: To consider one substantive deletion from the Advisory Board Policy.
BACKGROUND: The general Advisory Board Policy is a document that was created in 2012
after multiple meetings with two UNC School of Government consultants. Each term in the original
policy originated from either the consultants or members of the Board of Commissioners ("Board").
During a recent review of the policy, one sentence stood out as problematic. The current language
of this sentence is "Except for the Chair no member of the advisory board shall make any written
or oral statement of any confidential matter to any individual, business, or agency." That language
essentially authorizes the Chair of an advisory board to reveal confidential information to outside
parties.
There is no indication in the 2012 Board minutes why this language was added or by whom, but
it may have originated as something perceived to be needed for economic development purposes.
However, economic development advisory board members do not meet with business prospects.
It is recommended this language be amended to delete the beginning of the sentence "Except for
the Chair" and to clarify the remainder of the subsection that this prohibition applies to confidential
County matters. The clarification would allow for discussions of confidential matters related to
official county investigations such as personnel investigations.
The only other clarification at this time is to delete the original subsection 1 as being repetitive.
The same language related to the Chair serving as spokesperson for the advisory board is already
found in Section IV.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with this action.
SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: There is no Orange County Social Justice Goal impact associated
with this item.
2
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: There is no Orange County Environmental Responsibility Goal
impact associated with this item.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends the Board amend the advisory board
policy.
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Section V.
C. Confidentiality
1 The Chair shall se.rve s the s ekespeeirse—A f.,r+he a dyisery beaFGI
1.F--+ f,. +he rh ;. ^No member of the advisory board shall make any written or
oral statement of any confidential county matter to any individual, business, or
agency. A violation of this section will result in that member's immediate removal
from the advisory board. This prohibition does not apply to communications with
county staff, officials, or their agents conducting official county investigations.
-3-.2.Members of the advisory board may receive information regarding personnel matters
and other information of a sensitive or confidential nature. It shall be the duty and
responsibility of each member to respect and maintain the confidentiality of client
issues presented before the board. Neither the advisory board nor any individual
member shall disseminate confidential information received during advisory board
meetings.
4.3.Advisory board members may be required to sign confidentiality statements as
necessary and will be removed from the advisory board upon violation of the
confidentiality agreement.