Blount County rules committee elects chair, debates speaking limits and meeting procedures

The Blount County Board of Commissioners Rules Committee elected Commissioner Jared Anderson as chair and Commissioner Rick Carver as vice chair and reviewed a range of proposed changes to the county’s meeting rules, including limits on commissioners’ speaking time, meeting start times, a budget consent calendar threshold and public comment and conduct guidelines.

The committee approved its published agenda and minutes from the ad hoc committee that reviewed the board rules; both motions passed on unanimous voice votes recorded as five yes votes. Members then discussed several proposed rule changes and options for drafting language to return to the full commission for consideration.

Why it matters: The Rules Committee is charged with drafting and refining the procedures that govern how the full Blount County Commission conducts meetings, how members and the public participate, and how routine items are handled. Changes the committee recommends would go to the full commission for final approval.

Committee elections and procedural votes The committee opened with nominations for committee leadership. After nominations and a voice vote, Commissioner Jared Anderson was approved to serve as committee chair. Later in the meeting Commissioner Rick Carver was nominated by Commissioner French and seconded by Commissioner Giles and was approved by voice vote as vice chair. The published agenda for the meeting and the minutes of the March 29, 2022 ad hoc meeting to review commissioner rules were…