Yamhill County commissioners agree to list advisory meetings on joint calendar after public concern over quorum rules

Marvin Bernards told the Yamhill County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 25 that citizens “deserve transparency” and raised concerns that two commissioners attending an advisory board meeting together could constitute a quorum under Oregon public meeting law, potentially requiring formal notice and agenda.

Bernards told the board he had observed what he described as a parks‑board meeting interaction in which Commissioner Johnson had encouraged another commissioner to attend, and he warned that “if 2 of those members attend a parks board meeting together, that constitutes a quorum of the board” and “transforms what should be a Parks Board meeting into a Board of Commissioners meeting requiring notice, an agenda and compliance with all…