Commission directs staff to require five business days for materials and clearer revision marking in submittal policy

The commission discussed and directed staff to revise a proposed submittal policy so that materials must be submitted five business days before a meeting and to specify that materials be submitted electronically to the conservation administrator’s office. Members also directed that revised plan sheets should visually identify changes between versions (markups or clouds) and that applicants should include a plan-of-record and a clear indication of what changed.

The policy discussion covered edge cases — for example, whether informational materials handed out at a meeting may be accepted and the distinction between documents meant only for information and those that the commission should act upon. Staff explained the operational rationale for a deadline (to ensure commissioners have time to review before the weekend) and agreed to update the draft to five business days and to add explicit submission instructions to the conservation administrator.

Commissioners also discussed whether the policy should define a threshold for continuing hearings or deny acceptance of late materials; the revised draft will say the commission may delay review or decline to act on materials that do not meet the deadline. Staff will post the revised draft before the next meeting for commissioner review.