Weber County Commission officials said Oct. 21 that roll-call votes are required for ordinances and resolutions and that the chair can call a roll for other items to ensure voting records are clear.

Commissioner Bridger Bolinder opened a short informational recap with legal and clerk-auditor staff to explain why some items are decided by voice vote and others by roll call. Craig Brandt, executive assistant to the clerk/auditor, described an ordinance as a mechanism to change county code. Chris Crockett, the commission’s chief civil deputy attorney, said resolutions are used when the commission acts in an executive capacity, for example to make appointments, and emphasized the legal requirement for recording votes.

"The law actually just requires under the open and public meetings act that each vote be identified as to who voted, whether they voted yes, whether they voted no, or whether they were absent," Crockett said, explaining why roll-call votes are used for some agenda items. The commissioners noted the chair also has discretion to call a roll on other items, commonly on bodies with more than three members or when dissent is possible and the chair wants to ensure individual votes are recorded.

Staff and counsel said roll-call votes are especially important for meetings held electronically so the record clearly shows how remote participants voted. The segment was presented as an informational item; no motions or formal votes occurred during the recap.

Commissioner Bolinder closed the brief segment by thanking viewers and noting the office would provide similar explanations in future recaps.