Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Open Records Transparency topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commissioners debate posting full meeting packets online; motion to publish packet with minutes fails for lack of second
Summary
A proposal to make commissioners' agenda packets part of the public minutes was introduced; the board discussed redaction and workload concerns and the motion failed for lack of a second.
Commissioners discussed whether to post the full commissioner packet online as part of the minutes but did not adopt the change after a motion lacked a second.
One commissioner proposed making the packet available with the minutes after redacting personal data. The proposer argued the change would add an “another layer of transparency” and said the packet is already subject to open-record requests. County staff noted that documents containing personal data would need redaction before posting.
During debate a commissioner asked about the additional workload for staff; staff responded that scanning and redaction would increase time spent preparing the materials but said redaction could be handled prior to posting. The motion to adopt the practice of posting the packet with the minutes was made and no second was recorded; the board left the current practice unchanged.
Why it matters: posting meeting packets routinely could increase transparency for residents by providing the materials commissioners use when making decisions; commissioners weighed the benefit against staff workload and privacy redaction obligations.
Next steps: the county clerk will continue to provide packets via the current open-records process; commissioners did not direct staff to change the posting practice.
