Amador County – Supervisor Chairman John Plasse attempted to move to reconsider a $150,000 approval for funding for the University Cooperative Extension office on Tuesday, saying the funds might be better used to staff the county Agriculture Department office.

But County Counsel Martha Shaver said she had made a mistake in previous interpretation of county code to reconsider board actions, saying that the reconsideration must occur on the day the decision is made. Plasse said that did not make sense, and that code should be changed.

The item was not on the agenda, and the new interpretation did not allow them to reconsider, as Supervisors did recently concerning a decision on Dr. Bob Hartmann’s contract. The Supervisors all said they were under the impression from county legal staff that the reconsideration was to be made before the next regular meeting, following the meeting in which the decision was made.

Plasse said the $150,000 “may be better spent at that front counter,” working on agriculture issues, and he would like to reconsider that approval. He said he made the decision to reconsider after talking with County Administrative Officer Chuck Iley on Monday. Shaver said a motion must be made to reconsider on that day of the decision. She said “I believe I was wrong before,” and she “thought it had to be brought up at the next regular meeting.”

Plasse said: “We need to rewrite that ordinance” and “it makes no sense that you would vote and then change your mind” on the same day. Supervisor Richard Forster said “this board has been presented” with interpretation that reconsideration had to be made at or before the next meeting. Supervisor Brian Oneto agreed.

Shaver said “if the board wants freer rein, it must change the ordinance.” She said it would be more appropriate to place the reconsideration on the next agenda. Plasse said he would “withhold signing the agreement” with U.C. Cooperative Extension.

Supervisor Ted Novelli said they should also address “the problem about reconsideration” procedures in the next agenda. Shaver said the agenda could include consideration of amending that ordinance.

The board follows Robert’s Rules of Order, and Shaver said they can change the time element to make reconsiderations possible “without a time limit.” She said it did not necessarily have to be in ordinance form, but it was in an ordinance now.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.