HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-13 - Ord. Amending Chapter 2.88 Meetings of Board of County CommissionersORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING COUNTY CODE CHAPTER 2.88 — MEETINGS OF BOARD OF
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
WHEREAS, the Board of Vason County Commissioners desire to establish Rules of the
Board so Commission meetings are carried out with efficiency and uniformity and are
responsive to the public; and
WHEREAS, these rules are designed to provide guidance to the Commission and do not
amend statutory or other regulatory requirements;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Board of Mason County Commissioners hereby
establishes the following rules (Attachment A) for the conduct of Commission meetings,
proceedings and business. These rules shall be in effect upon adoption by ordinance of the
Commission and until such time as new rules are adopted by ordinance.
DATED this 19th day of February, 20130
ATTEST
Shannon Goudy, CI of the
APPROVED AS TO FORM
0
0
Tim Whitehead, Chief DPA
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
MASON COUNTY, WASHINGTON
"54
Randy Neather i ,CArair
Tim Sheldon, Commissioner
Terri Jeffrey �, s;�hrrthnissioner
Jo\RESOLUTIONS ORDINANCES\RESOLUTIONS -ORDINANCES Word Files\2013\Rules of the Board - Chpt
20880docx
Attachment A
Mason County Board of Commissioners
Rules of the Board
2.88.010 Regular Meetings.
Regular meetings of the Board of Mason County Commissioners are held at 9:00 a.m. each
Tuesday, except for the fifth Tuesday (in those months that have five Tuesdays) in the
Commission Chamber, 411 North 5th Street, Shelton, Washington to transact regular business,
(RCW 36.32.080) provided that:
1) If a holiday recognized and observed by the county falls on a Tuesday, such regular
meeting shall be held on the next business day, per RCW 42.30.070;
2) If, due to an emergency, it is unsafe to meet in the Commission Chambers,
meetings may be held for the duration of the emergency at such place as is
designated by the chairperson of the board;
3) The regular meeting of the board on the fourth Tuesday of the month shall
commence at 6 p.m. in the Commission Chambers;
4) The regular working session (briefings) may be held on Mondays from 8:00 a.m. to
5:00 p.m., on Tuesdays following the regular Commission meeting until 5 00 p.m.
and on Wednesdays from 8:00 a.m. to 5 00 p.m. At these meetings, the Board is
briefed by staff and discussion may occur with other agencies. These are generally
not decision -making meetings, however, occasionally an action is taken;
5) The Board may hold continued meetings in accordance with requirements of the
law and may conduct continued meetings in the evening.
Board members may participate in regular meetings via conference call or videoconference.
All Board meetings shall be open to the public However, the Board may retire to executive
session by majority vote and in compliance with the law (RCW 42.23 and RCW 42.30.110).
Nothing in this section shall prohibit the Board of County Commissioners from adjourning
Tuesday meetings from time to time, or from calling special meetings in accordance with
notice requirements of law (RCW 42.30), or from cancelling a Commission meeting.
2.88.020 Special meetings.
Special meetings may be called at any time by the Chair of the Board (RCW 42.30.080) or
by a majority of the members of the Board by providing written notice personally, by mail, by
fax, or by e-mail at least 24 hours before the time of the special meeting to each member of
the Board, to each local newspaper of general circulation, and to each local radio or
television station that has a written request on file with the governing body to be notified of
special meetings.
Notice shall be posted at the entrance to the meeting room and posted on the County's web
site. The notice shall specify the time and place of the special meeting and the business to
be transacted. Final action shall not be taken on any other matter at such meeting.
J:\Policies\Commissioner Meeting Rules.doc
2/8/2013 10:35 AM 1
Attachment A
Written notice to a member of the governing body is not required when a member files at or
prior to the meeting a written waiver of notice or provides a wavier by telegram, fax or e-
mail or the member is present at the meeting at the time it convenes.
2.88.030 Emergency meetings.
The notice required for special meetings may be waived in the event it is called to deal with
an emergency involving injury or damage to persons or property or the likelihood of such
injury or damage, when time requirements would make it impractical and increase the
likelihood of injury or damage. An emergency meeting must be open to the public.
2.88.040 Quorum.
A quorum of the Board of Mason County Commissioners shall consist of two elected or
appointed County Commissioners.
The Board shall not adopt nor discuss with each other any ordinance, rule, regulation, order
or directive except in a meeting open to the public and attended by a quorum, except for
executive sessions (RCW 42.30.110) and those proceedings exempted by RCW 42.30.140.
2.88.045 Meetings outside the regular meeting place.
The Board may schedule regular, continued, or special meetings at locations outside the
regular meeting place, subject to provisions of the Open Public Meetings Act (Chapter 42.30
RCW).
2 88.050 Officers of the Board.
The elected officers of the Board are the Chair and Vice Chair. At their first regular meeting
of the calendar year, the Board of Mason County Commissioners shall select one of its
members to preside at its meetings as Chair of the Board and Vice Chair. In the event of a
vacancy in the office of the Chair for any reason, including succession, the position shall be
filled by the Vice Chair and the election of a replacement for the Vice Chair shall be held to
serve the unexpired portion of the term. The Vice Chair will serve as Chair when the Chair is
unable to serve.
The Chair shall sign all documents requiring the signature of the Board, and the Chair's
signature shall be as legal and binding as if all members had affixed their names provided
the signature is authorized by the Board. In case the Chair is absent at any meeting of the
Board, all documents requiring the signature of the Board shall be signed by the Vice Chair.
J:\Policies\Commissioner Meeting Rules.doc
2/8/2013 10:35 AM 2
Attachment A
2.88.060 Clerk of the Board.
The Board of Mason County Commissioners shall appoint by resolution, a Clerk who shall
attend its meetings and keep a record of its proceedings. The Board may appoint an
alternate person to act as Clerk when the appointed Clerk is unable to attend meetings.
2.88.070 Motions, seconds, and voting.
Any member of the Board, including the Chair and Vice Chair may make motions and/or
second the motions of other members and vote on matters before the Board. Any member
may disqualify themselves if they have a conflict of interest or believe participation in a
Board action may raise issues of appearance of fairness.
2.88.080 Postponement of action.
When only two members of the Board are present at a meeting of the Board, and a division
takes place on any question, the matter under consideration shall be postponed until the
next regular meeting.
2.88.090 Agendas.
Agendas for regular meetings of the Board of County Commissioners shall be available to
the public no later than the working day prior to the meeting.
Agendas for adjourned or continued meetings of the Board of County Commissioners shall
be available to the public no later than the working day prior to the meeting
Additions or modifications to the agenda may be made by majority vote of the Board at any
time during the regular meeting.
2.88.100 Records of the Board.
All records of the Board, except those which are not public records within the terms of RCW
42.56, as enacted or hereafter amended, shall be available for public inspection at the office
of the Commissioners during regular working hours.
2 88.110 Applicability.
Nothing in this resolution or in Chapter 42.30 RCW prohibits Board members from travelling
together or from gathering for other purposes than county business nor from individually
discussing county business with other than Board members.
J:\Policies\Commissioner Meeting Rules.doc
2/8/2013 10:35 AM 3