Supervisors debate whether Committee of the Whole should allow unagendized public comments

During discussion of the rules, Supervisor Grady proposed adding language to allow the county board chair to permit citizens' comments at Committee of the Whole meetings when attendance and circumstances warrant it.

Grady argued the change would "give the county board chairman the latitude to do that without necessarily having a raging debate between county board members." Other supervisors pushed back, saying a Committee of the Whole is generally intended for information and that allowing unagendized comments could be unfair to members who did not attend. One supervisor said comments should either be allowed at all such meetings or not at all, and that items should be placed on the agenda in advance to avoid surprise.

After extended discussion and questions about practice and precedent, Supervisor Grady withdrew the proposed modification so the discussion could be recorded and revisited later if needed.