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Residents criticize 24‑hour notice for special meeting; ask for delay and workshop
Summary
Several residents told the Cambria CSD board the packet and agenda were posted with roughly 24 hours' notice and urged postponing action on the resolution until the public had more time to review documents and attend a public workshop.
Multiple residents and Zoom participants told the board the district posted the special‑meeting packet with roughly 24 hours' notice and urged the directors to postpone any vote so the public could read the materials and respond.
Jim Townsend said he received the special meeting notice and agenda at 09:57 the previous day and described the timing as legal but not useful to enable public participation. Elizabeth Benhausen and Miss Dickerson likewise asked the board to allow at least a week for public review and to hold a workshop before taking major fiscal actions. Benhausen said adopting policy on the district’s mission and capital priorities without adequate public input would be premature.
General Manager McElhaney and other staff said the item was time‑sensitive because of pending budget decisions and prior discussions among directors; McElhaney acknowledged the short posting but said staff and directors had discussed the resolution previously and that the timing was not intended to restrict participation.
Several directors said they shared residents’ concerns about timing; President Farmer and Director Thomas both expressed reluctance to vote immediately. The board nonetheless voted to adopt the resolution; President Farmer explicitly recorded a no vote, citing public concern about notice.
