Inspector General Advisory Board votes to post draft rules, including press-contact provision, for public comment

The Howard County Inspector General Advisory Board voted Aug. 28 to post its draft rules of procedure—including a supplemental provision governing contact with the press—on the board website for public comment for at least 30 days and to schedule a public hearing afterward.

The chair moved to advertise the draft rules and request staff to advertise a public hearing at least 30 days after posting; the motion received a second and members voted in favor.

County legal counsel Amanda advised the board on the timing and amendment process. She said the board should post a consistent draft for the public comment period rather than incorporating proposed board amendments into the posted document. “What you basically want to put your rules out for public comment and then kinda not change them so that the document is consistent for the public to respond to,” Amanda said. She added that after the public hearing the board may consider suggestions from both board members and members of the public and then amend the rules before formal adoption.

Staff (Isaiah Anderson) said the 30-day posting would likely mean a public hearing in early October, and that any proposed board amendments could be considered at that later meeting. A board member asked whether the board needed to approve amendments before the public hearing; Anderson and Amanda said changes could be held until after public comment and considered together when the board votes on final adoption.

The board also discussed whether interview questions from candidates during the hiring process might surface items the board should address in the rules; members agreed to collect suggested changes and consider them at the public hearing. The board noted its next regular meeting is scheduled for Sept. 11 at 6:30 p.m.