Final thoughts on the 10/7 Commissioners meeting
The County Commissioners had a relatively easy evening last night, even though their 3-and-a-half hour session looked testy at times. Read our full story here. (Update: Link working as of 8:20 a.m.)
Now for a few final notes:
At least one speaker in the commissioners' meeting room was putting out some hellacious white noise that got so bad it drowned out Commissioner Steve Arnold as he tried to speak on a resolution.
"I think this is a deliberate attempt to silence the conservatives," Arnold said, straining to be heard over the static. Actually, the problem was a bum microphone that was producing feedback and quickly replaced.
In case your copy of Robert's Rules of Order is at the dry cleaners, calling the question is an attempt to end debate. In last night's case, Commissioners Trudy Wade and Billy Yow were urging a vote on the development.
However, Vice Chairwoman Carolyn Coleman, who was running the meeting at the time, did not acknowledge any of those requests. She was following Chairman Bob Landreth's example, who frequently disregards requests to end debate if they don't suit his purpose.
That part of the meeting took more than 90 minutes before a vote finally came at 9:05
Commissioners abstain from voting on matters when they have a financial interest in the matter at hand. Landreth's property value could certainly be affected by the proposed project. Also, he told the audience that the developer, Shugart Enterprises, had approached him about potentially buying or swapping land for parts of his property.
Landreth said that they had not reached any sort of deal and then left the room. He watched the debate on a television in the hallway.
In fact, motions to adjourn take precedence over all other business being conducted at the time.
The commissioners have been known to use such motions to head off controversial discussions, cut off debates that drag on or give themselves to rethink a matter before finally coming to a settlement. All three may have applied Thursday.
At least one Planning Board member, Walter Winchester, was left in limbo after Thursday night. Winchester's term is expired, he is eligible to serve a second but the commissioners failed to reappoint him. But that doesn't mean there's an open seat on the planning board.
By county policy, members of volunteer boards and commissions who aren't removed, don't resign and don't die continue to serve until they are replaced. Because the commissioners didn't appoint anyone to fill Winchesters seat, he's still a planning board member.
Comments (1)
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Somewhat amazing that as big an impact it could have on things, many of our County Commissioners are "still studying" Amendment One.
If this amendment passes, we will be exchanging our right to vote on taking on local debt as protected in our State Constitution for some "very strict rules." These rules of course are not going to be in the State Constitution and will be subject to revision without voter approval. Oh, that would never happen. I'm sure.
Posted on October 11, 2004 12:36 PM