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Bernalillo County advisory board adopts rules of procedure and committee charters after debate; votes 8-1
Summary
The Bernalillo County advisory board approved a revised rules-of-procedure document (draft 3, with one-word amendment) and adopted four SOAR committee charters. Both measures passed on 8-1 votes.
The Bernalillo County advisory board on March 14 approved a revised rules-of-procedure document and established committee charters to align the board's work with its enabling ordinance.
The board voted 8-1 to adopt draft 3 of the rules of procedure with a single edit: the word "citizen" was removed from a section on submissions. The motion to approve the rules (moved by Dr. Laden and seconded by Mr. Whismer) passed after a short discussion of posting drafts online and what constitutes a "properly presented" submission. One member opposed the measure.
Minutes from the board's prior meeting and other routine consent items also passed earlier in the meeting.
Separately, the board voted 8-1 to adopt the proposed SOAR committee charters, which create four committees designed to mirror sections of the ordinance that grant the board authority and duties. The chair urged members to consider which committees they will serve on and asked that committees be kept small enough to avoid triggering Open Meetings Act requirements for full-board deliberation.
During the discussion before the votes, board members raised procedural questions about whether draft documents must be posted online before meetings, who counts as an "outside entity" for distribution of drafts, and how to balance majority rule with protections for minority viewpoints. County staff and the chair clarified that the county follows a 10-day public-notice practice (the Open Meetings Act minimum is 72 hours) and explained that "outside entities" includes state and federal agencies, school boards, the media and similar recipients.
The chair recorded the votes as eight in favor and one opposed for both measures; the dissenting member said, "It's, no," during roll call. With the actions passed, the board adopted the new procedural rules and committee charters and plans to finalize committee assignments at the next meeting, tentatively set for Friday, June 13 at 1 p.m.
Ending: The board adjourned after approving the measures and scheduling the next meeting; members were urged to review committee charters and come prepared to volunteer for assignments at the June meeting.
