Tuesday, 10 February 2009 00:08

Regional Planning Revisits MOU

slide4.jpgAmador County – The Amador Regional Planning Committee discussed its Memorandum of Understanding in an annual rehashing of the details, then agreed to keep rotating meeting locations, though possibly doing so not monthly but annually. Committee president and Sutter Creek Councilman Tim Murphy said they should keep the wording that has the meetings alternating between jurisdictions, but they should leave the time between rotations ambiguous, so they can change the location if they want, but also keep the same meeting place for the year, if wanted. The Regional Planning Committee was making its “annual” amendments to the MOU of the committee, though it was only entering its second year of existence. Murphy read through a list of amendment suggestions from Plymouth Vice Mayor Greg Baldwin. Among them, Baldwin “suggested deleting the At Large member” of the committee, the post recently taken by Rene Chapman. A majority of the board, including Murphy, rejected that suggestion. Baldwin also suggested omitting the section under duties, responsibilities and limitations, which said the committee “shall be charged with” the duty to “pursue grant funding opportunities for planning and infrastructure projects of regional interest.” Ione City Councilwoman Andrea Bonham said that was “one of the strongest parts of the MOU,” and most beneficial to the members, in helping each other find funding. Murphy said he did not support that omission and a consensus agreed. Baldwin also suggested the committee make Amador County responsible for logistical and staff support of meetings. Murphy said he would rather have that support rotate, along with the meeting place, though he thought monthly rotation was bothersome and it would be better to have a regular location, such as Sutter Creek, during his term as committee chairman. Jackson Mayor Connie Gonsalves said the rotating meeting place “gives us all opportunities to visit other parts of the county.” Bonham agreed, saying she likes to visit other city halls, such as Plymouth. Story by Jim Reece (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).