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305 <br /> <br />and notice must be given. The last sentence of this rule embodies that principle. <br />The rule goes beyond the Open Meetings Law in requiring a published schedule of <br />work sessions or committee meetings held regularly. <br /> G.S. 143-318.13(a) provides that if the board holds any regular, special, <br />emergency, or other official meetin9 by conference telephone or other electronic <br />means, the clerk shall provide a location and method whereby the public may listen <br />to the meeting and notice of the meeting shall specify that location. <br /> <br />Rule 7. Ail Meetings Within the County. <br />All meetings shall be held within the boundaries of Cabarrus County except as <br />otherwise provided herein. <br /> (1) A joint meeting with the governing board of any other political <br /> subdivision of this state or any other state may be held within <br /> the boundaries of either subdivision as may be specified in the <br /> call of the meeting. At any such joint meeting, this board <br /> reserves the right to vote separately on all matters coming <br /> before the joint meeting'. <br /> (2) A special meeting called for considering and acting on an order <br /> or resolution requesting members of the General Assembly <br /> representing all or any portion of this county to support or <br /> oppose any bill pending in the General Assembly or proposed for <br /> introduction therein may .be held in Raleigh or other such place <br /> as may be stated in the call of the meeting. <br /> Comment: see G.S. 153A-40(c). This statute also speaks of two other categories <br /> of gatherings that may be held outside county boundaries: retreats, and meetings <br /> with the legislative delegation representing the county in the General Assembly. <br /> Because the statute expressly forbids the board to take any official action at <br /> such meetings, they are not mentioned in the proposed rule. Remember, however, <br /> that such meetings are covered by the Open Meetings Law if a majority of the board <br /> is present and "deliberates" on public business. <br /> <br />Rule 8. Broadcasting and Recording of Meetings. <br />(a) Except as provided in this rule, any radio or television station is <br />entitled to broadcast all or any part of an official meeting of the board <br />that is required to be open to the public. Any person may photograph, file, <br />tape-record, or otherwise reproduce any part of a meeting required to be <br />open. <br />(b) Any radio or television station wishing to broadcast any portion of an <br />official board meeting shall so notify the county manager no later than <br />twenty-four (24) hours before the meeting. If the number of requests or the <br />quantity and size of the necessary equipment is such that the meeting cannot <br />be accommodated in the designated meeting room and no suitable alternative <br />site in the county office building is available, the county manager may <br />require the news media to either pool equipment and personnel or to secure <br />and pay the costs of an alternative meeting site mutually agreeable to the <br />board and the media representatives. <br /> comment: see G.S. 143-318.14. Notwithstanding the proposed rule, the board <br /> probably could not exclude broadcasters simply because they failed to give the <br /> suggested twenty-four-hour notice. <br /> <br /> V. Agenda <br />Rule 9. Agenda. <br />(a) The clerk to the board shall prepare the agenda for each regular, <br />special, and emergency meeting. A request to have an item of business placed <br />on the agenda for a regular meeting must be received by 10:00 A.M. five (5) <br />working days prior to the meeting. Any board member, may, by a timely <br />request, have an item placed on the agenda. <br />(b) The agenda packet shall include the agenda document, any proposed <br />ordinances or amendments to ordinances, and supporting documentation and <br />background information relevant to items on the agenda. A copy of the agenda <br />packet shall be delivered to each board member at least ninety-six (96) hours <br />before the meeting. Documents in the agenda packet, if not previously <br />available for public inspection, shall become so when packets have been <br />delivered to each board member or left at his or her usual dwelling. <br /> (c) The board may, by majority vote, add an item not on the agenda. <br /> comment: Because of the increased volume and complexity of the matters they must <br /> consider, nearly all boards use an agenda. Some boards use an agenda only to <br /> organize the material and to give themselves an opportunity to study the issues <br /> before they meet. These boards generally allow last-minute additions to the <br /> agenda by general consent, and this rule takes that approach. Other boards use <br /> their agenda to control the length of meetings, and will often hold a work session <br /> before the regular meeting to ask questions and thoroughly explore the proposals <br /> to be voted on at the meeting. Generally these boards do not allow late additions <br /> to the agenda unless an emergency exists. <br /> The manager may for convenience maintain a mailing list of interested <br /> parties wishing to receive a copy of the agenda reqularly. <br /> <br />Rule 10. Informal Public Comments. <br />The clerk to the board shall include on the agenda of each regular meeting of <br />the month at least fifteen (15) minutes for comments or questions from the <br />public in attendance. The chair will first recognize individuals or groups <br /> <br /> <br />