ELLIJAY, Ga. – With rising tensions on the specific Parks and Recreation Board, the Board of Commissioners have officially dissolved the authority while simultaneously revisiting the Advisory Board Member Policies.

That may be a little confusing to some as this entity is referred to as Authority and Advisory Board. In fact, part of the issue lies in that confusion as Gilmer County Commission Chairman Charlie Paris said he was shocked to find out just how much authority this “advisory board” had.

With an early December Special Called Meeting, the Commissioners met to re-clarify the people they do and don’t want to serve on these advisory boards in order to avoid conflicts of interests. In addition, they sought to reset some of the make-up of these boards as they added a point for a liaison between them and the advisory boards.

This practice is actually already been used without policy in some entities. Jim Smith, Director of Public Works, spoke at the meeting saying he was already a liaison for the Airport Advisory Board. Additionally, Mike Brumby, Director of Whitepath Golf Course, echoed the sentiment as he offered advice on how he has been the communications “hub” between the Golf Course and the Commissioners.

Some of the restrictions on board members came into question including an item about volunteers and employees. Smith offered advice saying that when board members get into the work, they seem to gain more insight. He stated, “I think the more they know about what that operation entails, the better they appreciate it.”

They left in an addition to the policy which said, “Board Members may take part in their respective departments as a volunteer only with no supervisory role.” In order to keep the ability to volunteer while excluding them from any decision making or higher responsibilities that could conflict with there roles on the board.

As the BOC came to agreement on the policy for board members, they moved on to the new business of dissolving the Parks and Rec Board. Paris began the item saying, “I want to say that I am perfectly happy with every person that serves on the Parks and Rec Board. I don’t have a problem with any one of them. What I have a problem with is the resolution that created the Parks and Rec Board… It is not an Advisory Board.”

As discussion moved forward, the sentiment was agreed on by both Post Commissioners. However, when Paris made a motion to rescind the resolution and dissolve the Parks and Rec Board, a second did not immediately come. Post Commissioner Travis Crouch stated he didn’t want to second the motion because he wouldn’t be around to recreate the board later since December is his last meeting.

Though Paris agreed he wanted to revisit the Board later, he did not want to make it a part of the same motion to dissolve it. Miller also stated he didn’t like the idea of a gap in the service of an advisory board, he did second the motion saying he understood the need to rescind the resolution.

After the second, the Board did vote 3-0 for the motion.

 

Those policies for Advisory Boards were read into the meeting as such:

1. Member shall be appointed by the Board of Commissioners.
2. Member cannot be a Department Head.
3. Member cannot be a County employee.
4. Member must be a resident of Gilmer County.
5. Member must serve a specific term.
6. Members can be reappointed.
7. Members shall not miss a majority of meetings in a year to remain on the Board.
8. Attendance shall be taken at each meeting.
9. Chairs shall be elected or re-elected each year by the Advisory Board.
10. Boards shall have By-Laws, and those By-Laws shall be approved by the Board of Commissioners.
11. Boards shall keep written minutes of all proceedings, shall be approved by the Advisory Board, and shall be maintained as public records.
12. Boards shall report all proceedings in writing to the Board of Commissioners within 30 days of any meeting.
13. All meetings shall be open to the public and duly advertised in accordance with the public meeting law.
14. Board recommendations shall be presented to the Board of Commissioners in writing.
15. Board members may take part in their respective department as a volunteer, only with no supervisory role.

Item No. 16 institutes the creation of a liaison between the Advisory Board and the Board of Commissioners that could be a department head.