Citizen Expresses Concern With BOE Policy

News

At a Gilmer County BOE workshop meeting on Tuesday, June 12th, citizen Joeene Deplancke expressed her concern to the BOE about their current BOE workshop policy, which does not allow public members to ask questions or comment during the meeting. In the BOE’s current policy, anyone wishing to speak at the meetings must first fill out a public comment request form 24 hours in advance in order to be put on the agenda. The person also must state the nature of his or her comment in the request to the BOE.

While speaking to the BOE last night, Mrs. DePLancke stated that last month she asked each member of the BOE to respond to a request they had sent them. She asked in the email whether or not they would support changing the procedures at the BOE worksessions to allow public questions and participation.

DePLancke then told the board that she did not recieve one response from any of the board members.

“You all have repeatedly said that you are available, that you would respond to emails, phone calls, etc.”

said DePLancke to the BOE on Tuesday.

“This is an election year; three of you are up for election, and I asked a very simple question, that the citizens of Gilmer County want answered regarding a change that most people want.”

Deplancke said

DePLancke also said that each member “totally disregarded her question” and instead she only recieved a letter from Superintendent Brian Dorsey saying what the current BOE workshop policy is. Deplancke said she did not ask or want a response from Dorsey, who she said is not an elected or voting board member, and just wanted a response from each of the BOE members.

“You know what I was asking. I was asking would any of you support a change in that policy. There’s a lot of things that are going on, and are going to be going on in this next year. There are people and there are citizens that would like to atleast be able to sit down and talk to the board. I don’t understand and I still don’t understand why you can’t talk with the board.”

DePLancke told the board.

DePLancke also told the board how in Dorsey’s letter that it specifically said that BOE meetings “are not meetings of the public”.

“It says we are invited to attend, but basically you don’t care what we think,”

DePLancke said.

“We can make presentations, but they are simply to allow the board to adhere comments without taking any action. That is specfically what the letter says.”

Further, DePLancke said that the letter stated that the agenda items are posted on the website, but then asked the board why it didn’t post on the website the week before last that the BOE workshop was cancelled so that those who was planning on attending the meeting would know. She also said that the website stated that the location for BOE meetings still read 497 Bobcat Trail, the old meeting place for the BOE.

“I find the BOE to be totally unresponsive to the public, and to be arrogant and disrespectful. You have, in essense by your failure to respond, said that you would not support a change and that is how I would post it to the public.”

said DePLankce.

After Mrs. DePLancke’s comments, Superintendent Dorsey wished to make it clear that in his letter that he did not write that the BOE was not concerned and that those were Deplancke’s own words.

Dorsey also said the reason that the BOE did not post that the worksession was cancelled the week before last was because the meeting was never scheduled on the BOE’s calendar in the first place.

Afterwards, FYN asked BOE Chairperson Kathy Jones what her response was to DePLancke’s comments.

“We are accessible and so is our phone number and email addresses. We have always responded to those type of situations. She does know the policies and we are open to the public and the community.”

said Jones

DePLancke explained her concerns to FYN by saying,

“My concerns are the public can not participate, respond, or ask questions in the worksessions and the public board meetings. I asked specifically last meeting for them to respond whether or not they would support a change in that so that the public could ask questions or participate at the worksessions. I asked each of them to respond to me in writing and filled in the form appropriately. Not one of them responded.”

To watch a video of Mrs. DePLancke addressing the board at the workshop, please watch the video below.

Back to Top