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Bylaws and Ethics Committee narrows attendance language, to send revised policy to full board
Summary
The committee drafted clearer attendance definitions, debated numeric absence thresholds and a two-meeting remote cap, and agreed to refer the revised bylaw language to the full board for consideration; public commenters urged stricter enforcement.
The Bylaws and Ethics Committee voted to refine proposed attendance rules and will present the revised language to the full board for consideration at the end of the month.
Chair Ryan Barthel said the goal of the revisions is clarity, not punishment. He told the committee the draft should move definitions of present, absent excused and absent unexcused out of the removal section and into a single attendance policy so members “know what the number is,” and the board does not appear to be threatening removal for ordinary absences. “I don't want someone like that determining whether my absence is valid,” Barthel said, arguing against concentrating unilateral authority to excuse absences.
Committee members debated numeric thresholds that could trigger removal proceedings for excessive absences. One member proposed limiting full-board absences to three a year (roughly 30% of 10 meetings), while others noted the prior draft referenced five and cautioned about unintended incentives. The committee discussed treating committee meetings separately from full-board meetings — so that absences would be counted per committee — and agreed members should be able to notify an official address in lieu of explaining personal reasons.
The draft also includes limits on remote participation. Committee members discussed a proposal to cap remote attendance at two meetings per year while allowing exemptions or reasonable accommodations for members with qualifying disabilities. The committee agreed extenuating circumstances would be considered and that the minutes should record attendance status for each member.
During public comment, an attendee urged the committee to enforce attendance rules and to “empty out the seat” of members who do not participate; the commenter said empty seats and repeated missed meetings deprive the community of representation and waste public resources. Another gallery participant echoed that accountability is appropriate and that the bylaws committee should not be afraid to act.
The committee did not adopt final bylaw text at the meeting. Members agreed to refine wording by email and to bring the revised attendance policy and related bylaw changes to the full board for a future vote. The committee adjourned at 8:08 p.m.
