Board and counsel set new process for Decision & Order drafts after tense work session

At a work session following the appeals, board members and the county solicitor’s office discussed frequent disputes over draft Decision & Orders (D&Os). Several members said recent drafts omitted hearing dates, misnamed participants and inserted argumentative language; Office of Law asked for specific redlines so counsel could correct errors.

Board counsel proposed a clear workflow: (1) counsel will circulate a dated draft (versioned filename); (2) board members will submit redlined edits or line‑specific comments by a stated deadline (one week in the agreed plan for complex matters); (3) counsel will incorporate all members’ edits and send an updated draft within three business days. Counsel also agreed to add requested factual items (hearing dates, who opened the hearing) when board members asked. Chair Ryan urged members to provide precise line references rather than general critiques to speed revision.

Several members raised concerns about timeliness and continuity in the transition between long‑serving counsel and newer assistant county solicitors. The board and counsel agreed to the process and scheduled an immediate turnaround on the Superco D&O: counsel will send a named draft and members will return redlines by a specified date so the board can finalize signatures before member transitions.