By Marla Dalrymple 
Staff Writer

The Town of Franklin Board of Aldermen held a called meeting Monday evening to discuss proposed board room rules of procedure first presented at October’s regular town meeting.

The board went through the rules, discussing their points. Revisions will be made, and the rules will continue to be discussed at later meetings for further fine tuning.

The rules of procedure are adapted from rules outlined by the University of North Carolina School of Government at Chapel Hill, said Assistant Town Manager Mike Decker, and include reasons to hold meetings, types of meetings, how items get on the meeting agenda and procedural motions. Town Manager Sam Greenwood said the rules would add a measure of fairness, especially for any new members who may come on board.

Dispute over appointments, EDC

Board members clashed over appointments to other committees and bodies. “I had questions about this,” said Alderman Bob Scott, who last month made a motion that all vacancies on town boards or commissions be advertised. “I am trying to get a diversity of people on town committees,” he said.

The recommended rules state that the board must consider committee appointments in open session. “I would like to see the board be very open,” said Scott.

“We have never had a problem with people being appointed,” said Alderman Sissy Pattillo.

“We never stated who has the authority,” said Town Attorney John Henning, Jr. “This is the first time this has been laid out for the town.”

Scott said the issue has been a problem area. “The public has a right to know who we are appointing to do what. It needs to be done in open session,” he said. “Period.”

“I haven’t seen a problem,” reiterated Pattillo. “The people who want to be there are there.” Both Pattillo and Alderman Joyce Handley voted against Scott’s motion to advertise vacancies, but it still passed 4:2.

Mayor Joe Collins said that procedurally it can be very difficult to get votes to appoint people to a six member board. Appearing upset, he turned to Scott and asked, “Is this about the EDC (Economic Development Commission)?”

Of course it is about Collins’ self-appointment to the the EDC, explained Scott following the meeting. Collins serves as the town’s representative on the county EDC. Scott said he has questioned who appointed Collins to the EDC and when, since it was not discussed or put to a vote by the board.

Questioned in July, Collins said he was asked to serve on the commission by EDC members Ed Shatley and Ron Winecoff, a current candidate for alderman. An email sent from EDC coordinator Trevor Dalton in August asked town board members to approve Collins for re-appointment on the commission after his first term expired.

“He was supposed to be appointed by the board,” said Scott referencing the suggested rules, “but I don’t remember that ever happening.” Scott said that any appointments to committees receiving tax funding should rest upon the board of aldermen rather than an individual. “Anyone interested in serving should have the right to know about an opening,” he said of committee vacancies.

During the town meeting, Henning said of appointments, “It is a matter for open session. The public needs to know.”

The group agreed that boards such as the Tourism Development Authority, the Alcoholic Beverage Control board and the town planning board must be appointed in open session by the board of aldermen.

The mayor, however, will have the authority to establish and appoint members for temporary and standing internal town committees.

Agendas

Aldermen decided it would be helpful to receive the agenda for meetings earlier. “I would like to see an extra day to look at things,” said Alderman Verlin Curtis.

The deadline to get things on the agenda will be Wednesday afternoon, with the agenda packets to be ready on the Thursday afternoon before a scheduled meeting.

The board discussed adopting the agenda at the beginning of the meeting, a procedure not currently followed. Collins said the process could help to prevent taking action on something that wasn’t on the agenda. “Setting the agenda may help protect that,” he said.

“Do we want to get this rigid?” asked Scott.

“I think it has always worked fine.”

“We haven’t had a problem, have we?” questioned Pattillo.

Decker asked about creating a consent agenda, meant to contain several non-controversial or routine actions in one motion. Henning said usually the town does not have to deal with a very high volume of actions at a time.

“The town manager has served well keeping the agenda streamlined anyway,” said Collins.

Speaking, motions and disorderly conduct

Issues of public session were also discussed, such as time limits, order of speakers and what to do about disruptions. Collins asked if he can engage in discussion during public session, saying sometimes he feels it is appropriate to provide feedback.

“They need feedback,” agreed Pattillo.

“We would benefit from language to remove the disorderly,” said Collins.

“Statutes are very explicit on who can be removed,” said Scott. “You have to warn them first.”

Greenwood interjected that without a time limit, public session is generally difficult to control. “The board could have the capacity to change it for a special allowance,” he said of instituting a speaker time limit. Aldermen agreed on a period of five minutes for speakers. “They can petition for an extension of time,” said Greenwood.

The next rule discussed was whether board members must be recognized by the mayor before speaking. According to the outlined provisions, “In order to address the board, a member must be recognized by the mayor.”

“Has it been a problem?” implored Scott.

“We could have it there if it ever becomes a question,” said Collins.

Vice-mayor Billy Mashburn said the group has gotten along wonderfully and questioned if having the rule in place, but not following it, could cause problems. Handley said the item could be revisited if necessary.

“In the end, we may wish we had it in,” said Collins.

Another rule states that a motion does not require a second in order to pass. Aldermen agreed that they prefer to have a second to a motion. “I think it’s a good thing to have,” said Pattillo.

Collins inquired about a motion to adjourn a meeting. “I think it is procedurally better,” said Greenwood of requiring a motion to adjourn.

“Let’s do that,” agreed Collins.

The next meeting of the Franklin Board of Aldermen is Monday, November 2 at 7 p.m.