AGENDA DATE: 8/8/2018
TITLE: Board of Supervisors Operating Guidelines
Tit
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Board consideration of operating guideline revisions
ITEM TYPE: Regular Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson
PRESENTER (S): Jeff Richardson
LEGAL REVIEW: Not Required
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: At the Board’s July 9, 2018, meeting the County Executive presented the Board’s Operating Guidelines for High Quality Governance (Attachment A) as developed during the May 2-3, 2018 Board Retreat for the Board’s review.
After discussion, the Board agreed to revisions to guideline numbers 4 and 6. The revised Operating Guidelines are provided in Attachment B.
The County Executive has since received additional feedback on the language of the Operating Guidelines, and will present the additional concerns to the Board at its August 8 meeting.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Quality Government Operations: Ensure County government’s capacity to provide high quality service that achieves community priorities
DISCUSSION: Board members expressed additional concern specifically regarding #2 and #7 of the Operating Guidelines.
• As currently written #2 states: We will honor the will of the majority and respect the interests of minority opinions.
o Regarding guideline #2, a Board member expressed concern that this guideline as written requires clarification on what is meant by “the interests of minority opinions.”
• As currently written #7 states: We ensure that we work with a careful and unified voice when we are dealing with other jurisdictions or units of government, including both the Board and the County Executive.
o In the interest of supplying clarity around the intent of guideline #7, a Board member has suggested two possible revised versions:
§ Revised Version 1: When dealing with other jurisdictions or units of government regarding a matter that has been the subject of a vote of the Board, and when the vote on the matter is not unanimous, we ensure that we acknowledge lack of unanimity in the vote in the interest of openness and fair dealing, and encourage contact with Board Members with Minority views, while confirming that the Majority vote constitutes the position of Albemarle County, thereby allowing the Board to speak with a unified voice with respect to both Majority and Minority views.
§ Revised Version 2: When dealing with other jurisdictions or units of government regarding a matter that has been the subject of a vote of the Board, and when the vote is not unanimous, we ensure that Board Members who voted in the Minority defer to Members of the Majority for any and all necessary contact/communication/negotiations with the other jurisdiction or unit of government, and withhold any further statement or communication of Minority views from the other jurisdiction or unit of government, the media, the public and constituents, to ensure that the County may speak with a the unified voice of Majority Board Members.
BUDGET IMPACT: There is no budget impact anticipated with the adoption of these guidelines.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Board consider the proposed revisions.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A: Operating Guidelines for High Quality Governance
Attachment B: Revised Operating Guidelines for High Quality Governance