Board adopts implementation steps for advisory‑committee policy; staff change application and term scheduling

The Chatham County Board of Commissioners on July 21 received an update on implementing the advisory‑committee policy the board adopted at its prior meeting and approved a series of term adjustments and application changes intended to stagger expirations and align committees with the new policy rules.

Staff reported they have met with committee staff leads to review policy sections affecting discretionary committees; revised the committee application to align with the policy’s qualification criteria (removing separate education/employer fields and adding an open‑ended question about relevant experience, clarifying optional demographic reporting and adding a residency‑type question for business/property‑owner exceptions); and are developing short training videos on ethics and committee guidelines for distribution to committees.

Key implementation points the county presented: committees should have odd numbered membership (5–11 members) for quorum/voting clarity; staff recommended staggering terms so roughly a third of seats expire each year; committees and staff leads may share the new policy updates with their panels and will see the updated applications; and the county manager’s office and staff leads proposed revised term expiration dates to match the new schedule.

The board voted through a series of motions to set new expiration dates for appointments across multiple advisory committees (affordable housing, climate change advisory committee, environmental review, library, recreation and transportation advisory committees). Staff explained the intent was not to remove members but to stagger terms so not all members would expire simultaneously. Several commissioners asked that specific term swaps be made so longer‑serving members retained continuity; the board approved those swaps by amendment in open session. Commissioners also debated whether some committees should remain full‑board appointments or switch to a district/at‑large mix; the board discussed (and in one case delayed) whether to change committee membership counts in light of that policy. The record shows discussion and a 3–2 vote on one motion related to recreation‑committee size and appointment approach; staff will return if the board seeks to alter the policy language.

Staff said committees will still be able to view all applications and may be asked—at the board’s discretion—to provide recommendations to the board. The application is public record and committees may review candidate materials. Staff will advertise current vacancies per the new terms, and manager’s office staff will coordinate updates to committee rosters.

Ending: After completing the series of actions implementing the advisory‑committee rules and term scheduling, the board voted to go into closed session under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143‑318.11(a)(6) to consider qualifications and performance of an individual public employee or prospective appointee.