Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board last week had a director asking again about meeting minutes since she took office. AWA staff is now looking through its meeting minutes from 6 months previous, at the request of District 4 Director Debbie Dunn, who said at a meeting earlier this month that she was not sure why some people’s comments to the board are listed in explicit detail, while others get minimal mentions – or no mention at all – of the things they say. Board Chairman Terence Moore said “if it had a bearing on a decision, what people say is more detailed” in the written minutes. Board Clerk Cris Thompson said it also might depend on who types out the minutes, as one clerk there often wrote more details than she did. Thompson said she just followed instructions previously given to her by the board, about what to include or not include in the minutes. Dunn said she was concerned about what the Foothill Conservancy’s Katherine Evatt said at a previous meeting, specific to a company, RMC. Moore said they could work with staff on guidelines and formats expected in the reporting of meeting minutes. AWA Attorney Steve Kronick suggested they make the revisions to minutes in a “redline format,” which shows “strike-throughs” of omissions, and underlines in red in those items that are added. Dunn volunteered to talk with General Manager Jim Abercrombie about the issue. Moore said: “I’ll do it too,” and he suggested the agency “see what other agencies do,” such as El Dorado County. He said “Maybe we’re trying to do too much.” Moore said “we pulled all the minutes and we’ll go thru them.” Dunn said: “I’m new. I’m not a bull in a china closet. I’m not here to change things. I just want to know how they work.” Moore said in past meetings, he and a director had argued for hours straight on a subject, only to have it listed in the minutes that he and “director Moore discussed” the issue at hand. He said it just depends on what is said and whether it is part of a decision made. Dunn, who took office in December, noted that the agency already destroys recordings of meetings, after a certain time. She said she learned of that public utility practice at a workshop and supports the practice. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Wednesday, 29 July 2009 00:09
Amador Water Agency
Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board last week had a director asking again about meeting minutes since she took office. AWA staff is now looking through its meeting minutes from 6 months previous, at the request of District 4 Director Debbie Dunn, who said at a meeting earlier this month that she was not sure why some people’s comments to the board are listed in explicit detail, while others get minimal mentions – or no mention at all – of the things they say. Board Chairman Terence Moore said “if it had a bearing on a decision, what people say is more detailed” in the written minutes. Board Clerk Cris Thompson said it also might depend on who types out the minutes, as one clerk there often wrote more details than she did. Thompson said she just followed instructions previously given to her by the board, about what to include or not include in the minutes. Dunn said she was concerned about what the Foothill Conservancy’s Katherine Evatt said at a previous meeting, specific to a company, RMC. Moore said they could work with staff on guidelines and formats expected in the reporting of meeting minutes. AWA Attorney Steve Kronick suggested they make the revisions to minutes in a “redline format,” which shows “strike-throughs” of omissions, and underlines in red in those items that are added. Dunn volunteered to talk with General Manager Jim Abercrombie about the issue. Moore said: “I’ll do it too,” and he suggested the agency “see what other agencies do,” such as El Dorado County. He said “Maybe we’re trying to do too much.” Moore said “we pulled all the minutes and we’ll go thru them.” Dunn said: “I’m new. I’m not a bull in a china closet. I’m not here to change things. I just want to know how they work.” Moore said in past meetings, he and a director had argued for hours straight on a subject, only to have it listed in the minutes that he and “director Moore discussed” the issue at hand. He said it just depends on what is said and whether it is part of a decision made. Dunn, who took office in December, noted that the agency already destroys recordings of meetings, after a certain time. She said she learned of that public utility practice at a workshop and supports the practice. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
