Also, commissioners may move meeting start time to 5 p.m. soon
By JESSICA BRICKER
Two items at the center of ongoing discussions were tabled until later this month by the county commissioners.
County Attorney Colin Andrews said Monday that Larry McChessney, one of the commissioners’ appointments to the county’s property tax assessment board of appeals, was sent a letter outlining the commissioners’ concerns about him continuing to serve on the PTABOA.
“Pursuant to our ordinance that we just passed last meeting, he’s allowed seven days’ written notice. I sent a certified and regular mail letter to him,” Andrews said. “I did not get that receipt back, so I cannot show you that he got notice that we had a meeting today.”
Andrews requested that the matter be tabled for now, and commissioners Mike Vanover, Jeff Stringer and Blake Gerber were in agreement to do so.
Complaints about alleged misconduct were brought against McChessney and his fellow PTABOA member Judy Affolder by the commissioners’ newest appointment to the board, Chandler Gerber. At the last meeting, the commissioners passed an ordinance outlining the process for the removal of PTABOA appointments, which includes the appointee’s right to a public hearing before removal is sought.
Also on Monday, the commissioners tabled until April 18 an effort by Stringer to adjust the start time of at least one monthly meeting of the commissioners. He said he continually hears from constituents that they want the commissioners to be more accessible — and early morning meeting times don’t help.
Stringer requested that the commissioners start meeting at 5 p.m. It’s unclear if that would be the start time for both monthly meetings of the board or just one of the two meetings.
Blake Gerber wants to make sure the members of the other two boards that meet regularly with the commissioners — the drainage board twice a month and the solid waste district board during the second meeting of the month — would be available at a new time. Those details are to be worked out before the matter is voted on later this month.
“I think they’re salary, so we can say they got to be here, but yeah that’s fine,” Stringer said.
Vanover asked that if county employees could not attend, if there would be a way for them to electronically participate. Gerber said that would work as long as it’s advertised in advance that way. Stringer said someone may be able to substitute for another as well.
He also said county council already meets in the evening, county employees attend those meetings and then asked if they could go ahead and approve the new meeting time based on that precedent.
Gerber asked if the time change would be for both meetings, and the commissioners agreed that would be something to work out before a decision is made.
jessica@news-banner.com
