Members of the Board may be removed by the Board of Commissioners for cause, including violation of the rules stated below:
(A) Faithful attendance at meetings of the Board and conscientious performance of the duties required of members of the Board shall be considered a prerequisite to continuing membership on the Board.
(B) No Board member shall take part in the hearing, consideration, or determination of any case in which that member is personally or financially interested. A Board member shall not have a “financial interest” in a case when a decision in the case will:
(1) Cause that member or spouse to experience a direct financial benefit or loss, or
(2) Will cause a business in which the member or spouse owns a 10% or greater interest, or is involved in a decision-making role, to experience a direct financial benefit or loss. A Board member shall have a “personal interest” in a case when it involves a member of the immediate family (i.e. parent, spouse, or child).
(C) No Board member shall discuss any case with any parties thereto prior to the public hearing on that case; provided, however, that members may receive and/or seek information pertaining to the case from the Watershed Administrator or any other member of the Board, its secretary or clerk prior to the hearing.
(D) The intent is to prohibit members of the Board from acting in situations where they have a conflict of interest in a manner similar to the prohibition in G.S. § 14-234(c)(1). Please also see G.S. § 160D-109 – standards for conflicts of interest for local government development decisions.
(E) Members of the Board shall not express individual opinions on the proper judgement of any case prior to its determination on that case.
(F) Members of the Board shall give notice to the Board Chair at least 48 hours prior to the hearing of any potential conflict of interest which the member has in a particular case before the Board.
(G) No Board member shall vote on any matter that decides an application or appeal unless the member had attended the public hearing on that application or appeal.
(Ord. passed 10-16-23)