(A) Purpose. The purpose of these rules is to establish a consistent, uniform method of conducting meetings of the Board of County Commissioners of Greene County.
(B) Authority. The adoption of rules by the Board of County Commissioners is specifically authorized in G.S. § 153A-41.
(C) Open meetings. All meetings of the Board of County Commissioners must be conducted in accordance with the Open Meetings Laws of the state.
(D) Regular meetings. The Board of County Commissioners shall meet on the first and third Monday of each month. The meetings will be held at a time and in a place designated by the Board of County Commissioners when establishing the annual list of Regular Meetings Schedule. If the regular meeting date falls on a legal holiday, the meeting shall be held on the next regular business day at the same place and time.
(E) Special meetings. The Chairperson or a majority of member of the Board may at any time call a special meeting of the Board of Commissioners by signing a written notice stating the time and place of the meeting and the subjects to be considered. The person or persons who call the meeting shall cause the notice to be delivered to the Chairperson and all other Board members or left at the usual dwelling place of each member at least 48 hours before the meeting and shall cause a copy of the notice to be posted on the courthouse bulletin board at least 48 hours prior to the meeting and give notice in compliance with G.S. § 143-318.12. Only those items of business specified in the notice may be transacted at a special meeting, unless all members are present or those who are not present have signed a written waiver.
(F) Agenda. The County Manager shall prepare the agenda for the meeting. A request to have an item placed on the agenda must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on the Tuesday preceding the meeting. Any Board member may, by timely request, have an item placed on the agenda. The agenda package shall include, for each item placed thereon, as much background information as is available and feasible to reproduce. A copy of all proposed ordinances and resolutions shall be attached to the agenda. Copies of the agenda shall be made available to the public when distributed to the Board members.
(G) Informal public address to the Board. The County Manager shall include on the agenda for each regular meeting a period of 15 minutes for informal comments from the public in attendance. Comments shall be limited to subjects of county business. The Chair will first recognize individuals or groups who have made a prior request to be heard and then may recognize others, subject to time available. However, the Board shall determine at the meeting whether it will hear the individual or group. The Chairperson may specify the time allotted to each individual or group. After the time for informal comments has expired, the Chairperson will recognize further speakers only upon motion duly made, seconded, and carried.
(H) Order of business.
(1) Items shall be placed on the agenda according to the order of business:
(a) Call to order;
(b) Invocation;
(c) Approval of minutes;
(d) Discussion/adjustment of agenda;
(e) Public hearings;
(f) Informal comments;
(g) Administrative and Committee reports;
(h) Unfinished business;
(i) New business;
(j) Informal discussion;
(k) Closed session (if required).
(2) By general consent of the Board, items may be considered out of order.
(I) Powers of the Presiding Officer. The Chairperson shall preside at meetings of the Board. The Chairperson shall have the following powers:
(1) To rule motions in or out of order including the right to rule out of order any motion patently offered for obstructive purposes;
(2) To determine whether a speaker has gone beyond reasonable standards of courtesy in his or her remarks and to entertain and rule on objections from other members of the Board on this ground;
(3) To entertain and answer all questions of parliamentary procedure;
(4) To call a brief recess at any time;
(5) To adjourn in an emergency.
(J) Quorum. Three members shall constitute a quorum.
(K) Quorum required for public hearing. A quorum is required to conduct a public hearing.
(L) Reference to Robert’s Rules of Order and applicable law. To the extent not provided for in these rules and to the extent that the reference does not conflict with the spirit of these rules, the Board shall refer to Robert’s Rules of Order for unresolved procedural questions. Should any provision of these rules be deemed to conflict with applicable state law, the law shall have precedence over these rules.
(Ord. passed 6-3-96; Ord. passed 12-21-20)