Chair Shelby Cole says lack of quorum blocked formal action at Alameda County Consumer Affairs Commission meeting

Chair Shelby Cole said the Alameda County Consumer Affairs Commission convened on May 14 but lacked a quorum, preventing formal votes and approval of the meeting minutes. "I am serving as chair," Cole said while calling roll and noting the time.

The meeting’s roll call showed Commissioners McBath and Marisol present and Commissioners Jones Cunningham, Collins, Hurd, Larkin and Murphy listed as excused or absent; Manager Grosch was present. Cole noted that the commission recently removed Commissioner Favreau and that questions had been raised — including a point of order attributed to Commissioner McFadden — about whether Commissioner Larkin should be counted as an active member toward quorum status.

Cole and other members discussed the commission’s attendance rules, noting that three consecutive unexcused absences in a calendar year can lead to removal. Because the body was one member short of a quorum, members agreed they could not entertain motions. "We can't do a motion," Cole said, and the meeting moved on to routine business that could not be finalized without a quorum.

Staffer Ms. Fan was thanked for linking the minutes in the meeting agenda for the public record; the commission deferred formal approval of those minutes until a quorum can be established. No formal votes or motions were recorded in the transcript.

The commission continued its agenda informally but took no binding actions; approval of the minutes and any motions were postponed pending a quorum.