6/4/10 Update on County Issues

 
BOC MEETING CANCELED!!!

 
I was shocked when I received an email from Comm. Hill Wednesday evening--

 
             “Upon the advice of the attorney” he says, he has canceled the meeting for Monday, June 7.  Reason?  Comm. Pennamon and Comm. Bernard can’t attend the meeting for some reason.  The rest of us haven’t been given any explanations. 

 
I gather from the emails there’s been “consultations” with the attorney.  These “consultations” have not been with the BOC but only with the Chairman and maybe one or two other commissioners.  Comm. Hill now says he doesn’t know what his schedule will be but he MIGHT be called to work Monday so we just won’t have the meeting.

The County Charter is clear--”There SHALL be a meeting the first Monday of every month and if a holiday, a time set by the BOC.”  The chairman has apparently been told by the county attorney he can cancel the meeting because he (Comm. Hill)  “might” be called to work. 

We have been reminded repeatedly by Comm. Bernard that we follow the Roberts Rules of Order.  RRO state the meeting should not be canceled; but rather that if there is not a quorum, the meeting should be opened as scheduled and then adjourned for lack of a quorum.

This action seems to be intended to keep Commissioner Cox and me from being the majority.  We are turning into a “rule by control” by the working majority of Hill, Pennamon and Bernard.    They control what can be put on the agenda, do not allow citizen input, and now cancel meetings to ensure their votes are the only ones that matter.  Citizens need to know about and help change these situations.

I have not been informed as to when the next meeting will be, but if and when I am, I will let you know.

Mary Patrick
District 4 Commissioner,
Jasper County, GA
marypatrick@wildblue.net
www.MaryPatrick4Jasper.com