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Richland County holds supervisor orientation covering agenda rules, per diems and open-meetings law
Summary
The Richland County Board held an orientation April 28 to review board rules, agenda and posting procedures, per-diem/mileage policy, closed-session limits and the chain of command; staff clarified how agendas are prepared and the board approved committee assignments and chair elections.
The Richland County Board of Supervisors held a supervisor orientation April 28 that reviewed the board’s rules, agenda and posting practices, per-diem procedures and open-meetings and closed-session requirements.
Administrator Tricia Clements opened the orientation with an overview of committee structure and the board’s responsibilities, saying the board “shall be invested in a wise and deliberate manner” of taxpayer funds and outlining the five standing committees that handle routine business: executive & finance, natural resources, community & health services, public works and public safety.
Derek Kalish, who explained agenda and clerk procedures, told members that agendas are posted electronically and that the full meeting packet is published by 1 p.m. the Friday before a regular meeting. “Agendas for county board and standing committees are essentially created the same way,” Kalish said, describing a consultative process that starts with staff drafting a proposed agenda and the board chair signing off before posting.
Kalish also reviewed compensation and reimbursement: $40 per county board meeting, $30 per standing committee meeting and mileage at the federal rate (72.5¢ per mile); claim forms are available on supervisors’ iPads and must be submitted promptly to avoid delays. “If you want to get paid for your meetings, you need to submit essentially the county board’s version of a time card,” Kalish said.
Corporation counsel Bridal advised supervisors on open-meetings and closed-session law, stressing that closed sessions must be justified under state statute and properly noticed. “Closed session is closed session,” Bridal said. He said closed sessions normally require a roll-call vote to enter and to exit and warned that votes generally cannot be taken while in closed session.
Officials also discussed the board’s relationship with administration. Bridal and the chair emphasized that the board sets policy while the county administrator and department heads implement it; individual supervisors should refer employee complaints through the administrator rather than directing staff. The orientation reiterated that only the board chair may make official statements on the board’s behalf and that supervisors using county email for official business should be mindful that such records are subject to public-records requests.
On remote attendance, the board’s rules limit remote participation to no more than six regular meetings per year at the chair’s discretion; remote participants should use video and are not permitted to participate in closed sessions because the board cannot verify who is physically present with a remote attendee.
The orientation closed with a demonstration of the county website and instructions on committee assignments and next steps for new supervisors to complete required forms and trainings. The meeting proceeded to consider committee placements and elections for committee chairs.
