Council needs to rethink vote, resolve its differences

This past Monday night, the county council, after members congratulated themselves on how well they worked together, proceeded to melt down over rules changes for how the council operates.

The proposed rules, in two resolutions, were introduced at the Jan. 16 council meeting. The plan was to work through the proposed rules changes at the upcoming council work session on Feb. 13 — which is open to the public — before the hearing on the resolutions on Feb. 20.

Unfortunately, in an apparent power play to punish the current council chair and staff, four council members voted to move the hearing on these two resolutions to the meeting this past Monday night. This vote led to the meltdown.

Three dissenting council members strongly urged the majority to table the votes on the resolutions until after the work session, calling the action by the majority a travesty and a betrayal of trust. They were only able to table the vote on one of the resolutions.

Why should the public care about these actions? Because, in addition to the loss of comity, the approved rules changes affect council staff, especially Laura Corby, the council administrative officer, undermining her authority to make, perhaps, even the most-basic decisions such as ordering supplies, without a vote of the council.

As a result, Corby has resigned — which truly is a travesty for the public. Corby has been a powerfully effective public servant. She is responsive to any and all questions, and is patient, considerate and professional.

Losing her will make it more difficult for the public to understand council procedures and processes. We urge council members to reconsider the vote on Monday night, and resolve their differences in the Feb. 13 work session. You should too by writing to your council member. — Kate Fox

Fox is legislative committee chair of the Growth Action Network