BC 1991 03 04 - Laserfiche WebLink

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67 (2) A special meeting called for considering and acting on an order or resolution requesting members of the General Assembly representing all or any portion of this county to support or oppose any bill pending in the General Assembly or proposed for introduction therein may be held in Raleigh or other such place as stated in the call of the meeting. Comment: See G.S. 153A-40(c). This statute also speaks of two other 'categories of gatherings that may be held outside county boundaries: retreats, and meetings with the legislative delegation representing the county in the General Assembly. Because the statute expressly forbids the board to take any official action at such gatherings, they are not mentioned in the proposed rule~ Remember, however, that such gatherings are covered by the Open Meetings Law if a majority of the board is present and "deliberates" on public business. Rule 8. Broadcasting and Recording of Meetings. (a) Except as provided in this rule, any radio or television station may broadcast all or any part of an official board meeting required to be open to the public. Any person may photograph, file, tape-record, or otherwise reproduce any part of a meeting required to be open. (b) Any radio or television station wishing to broadcast any portion of an official board meeting shall so notify the county manager no later than twenty- four (24) hours before the meeting. If the number of requests or the quantity and size of the necessary equipment is such that the meeting cannot be accommodated in the designated meeting room and no suitable alternative site in the county office building is available, the county manager may require the news media to either pool equipment and personnel or to secure and pay the costs of an alternative meeting site mutually agreeable to the board and the media representatives. Comment: See S.G. 143-318.14. Notwithstanding the proposed rule, the board probably could not exclude broadcasters simply because they failed to give the suggested twenty-four-hour (24) notice. V. Agenda Rule 9. Agenda. (a) The clerk to the board shall prepare the agenda for each regular, special, and emergency meeting. A request to have an item of business placed on the agenda for a regular meeting must be received by 10:00 A.M. five (5) working days prior to the meeting. Any board member, may, by a timely request, have an item placed on the agenda. (b) The agenda packet shall include the agenda document, any proposed ordinances or amendments to ordinances, and supporting documentation and background information relevant to items on the agenda. A copy of the agenda packet shall be delivered to each board member at least ninety-six (96) hours before the meeting. Documents in the agenda packet, if not previously available for public inspection, shall become so when packets have been delivered to each board member or left at his or her usual dwelling. (c) The board may, by majority vote, add an item not on the agenda. Comment: Because of the increased volume and complexity of the matters they must consider, nearly all boards use an agenda. Some boards use an agenda only to organize the material and to give themselves an opportunity to study the issues before they meet. These boards generally allow last-minute additions to the agenda by general consent, and this rule takes that approach. Other boards use their agenda to control the length of meetings, and will often hold a work session before the regular meeting to ask questions and thoroughly explore the proposals to be voted on at the meeting. Generally these boards do not allow late additions to the agenda unless an emergency exists.