Commissioners ask staff, county attorney and School of Government to draft proposed rules‑of‑procedure changes for board review

The Chatham County Board of Commissioners directed county staff and the county attorney on Feb. 19 to work with the UNC School of Government and return with proposed recommendations for updates to the board’s rules of procedure.

County attorney Bob (last name not specified in the record) presented sections of the rules that staff and at least one commissioner identified as candidates for review. Topics highlighted for further consideration included the process for selecting a chair and vice chair after elections, the agenda‑setting process and how individual commissioners request items be placed on future agendas, the consent agenda procedure, public input timing and logistics, and the county’s parliamentary procedures (who rules on points of order).

Several commissioners said they were satisfied with existing rules but supported a periodic review. Others said they preferred that staff and the county attorney — working with the School of Government — return with draft recommendations rather than relying on an ad‑hoc committee or an individual commissioner to draft changes. One commissioner requested that staff ensure any recommended changes preserve fairness for minority viewpoints and make procedural expectations clearer to the public.

A motion was made and seconded directing staff, the county attorney and the School of Government to develop proposed rule changes and return to the board for deliberation. The board did not adopt specific rule language on Feb. 19; staff will return with options and suggested edits.