Candland's Procedural BOCS Changes Fail to Pass

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The Prince William County Board of County Supervisors voted down multiple procedural changes proposed by Gainesville Supervisor Pete Candland (R) at its Jan.15 meeting. Instead, they  accepted one substitute motion proposed by Woodbridge Supervisor Frank Principi (D).

Candland presented a 6-part motion to the Board aimed at increasing citizen participation and the transparency of the board. While Board members said they agree with the sentiment, they found many of the points to be redundant. Other points they thought would create more problems than they solved, while some of them resolved to look into through a staff directive.

Proposal 1: Changing Meeting Times

On the first issue, of changing the meeting schedules, Candland wished to conduct more of the meetings in the evening, so that citizens who work during the day are better able to participate.

Currently, the Board meets at 2 p.m. but will often reconvene when necessary to address more business. Candland specified that important business and votes should be held at night, while routine staff reports can continue in the afternoon.

Michael May (R), Supervisor of the Occoquan District, said he liked the principle of the proposal, but suspected late-running meetings would also discourage people from attending. He also noted that the Board tries to address land use in the evening, since they “tend to be the most controversial.” Should they be pushed back later, people would be unable to attend.

May also said it would not help transparency to separate discussion from voting. Chairman Corey Stewart (R) said he was open to reviewing the calendar and making sure important issues were being held in the evening.

Candland’s first motion failed 6-2 with only Candland and Maureen Caddigan (R) of the Potomac District supporting it. That pattern repeated for the next four of his motions.

Substitute Motion: Meeting Times

Frank Principi offered a substitute motion that the Board should hold at least one evening meeting per month.

Supervisor Marti Nohe (R) of the Coles district cautioned that the Board should only be meeting if they have actual business to discuss since staff is paid to attend meetings, and also because it could lead to the problem of too much government.

Candland said Principi’s motion would affect little real change. He also called day of proposals "shenanigans,” since the citizens do not get a chance to weigh in on them.

Principi’s substitute motion passed 6-2 with Candland and May opposing it.

Proposal 2: Extending Citizen’s Time

For Candland’s second proposal to extend Citizen’s Time from 30 minutes to 45 minutes, the Board accepted a friendly amendment that would place no limit on Citizen’s Time as proposed by Supervisor John Jenkins of the Neabsco District

Chairman Corey Stewart explained that he never limits Citizen’s Time, so in actuality, Candland’s proposal, might have limited citizen’s participation, which was not Supervisor Candland’s intent.

Proposal 3.A: Put Forth Necessary Material

Candland’s third proposal was in three parts. The first would require the Board to put forth all necessary material at the time the item is published. Candland agreed to drop this part, as the Board felt it was unnecessary to include in procedures since it is specified in Virginia Code. Brentsville Supervisor Wally Covington (R) said it would not make sense to reiterate this particular code, unless the Board was to uniformly reiterate them all.

Proposal 3.B: Email Agenda Items

Candland agreed to drop item 3.B that would require staff to email agenda items to all citizens who subscribe, since staff explained that PWC already provides that service.

Proposal 3.C: Citizens E-Comments

Candland proposed that citizens should be able to comment on agenda items. Their comments should then be printed and presented to the Board members. Supervisors said they would like to receive comments, but worried that public comments invited a whole host of issues.

Nohe explained that live comments would have to be monitored so that anything explicit, racist or sexist could be immediately removed. He said people would have to use their real names, so they could not pose as supervisors. Nohe voiced concern that monitoring the site would cost money.

Covington thought the comment page would be redundant, since staff members have Facebook sites where people can comment.

In response to these concerns, Candland amended, making comments private. The county attorney said they would still need to allow access to the comments under FOIA requests.

At May’s behest and Candland’s agreement, the item was changed to a staff directive to explore how a comment section could be implemented.

Proposal 3.D. Citizens should be able to get all public materials, Motion 4: that all submissions for motions should be submitted in writing

Candland wanted all submissions for motions in writing and wanted citizens to have time to review them.

Supervisors felt they were already doing this; Supervisor Jenkins said they should refer to Robert’s Rules, but that changing the procedures could cause them to pick up “bad habits.”

Neither motion passed.

Motion 5. That supervisors provide a written resolution and supporting material be made public.

While May questioned if this motion overlapped the last, Candland said it does in principle.

“Seem to preclude the ability to make a substitute motion,” Nohe said.

Candland responded that supervisors could always waive the rules of procedure if necessary.

This motion did not pass.

Motion 6. That rules can only be waived with a 2/3rd majority vote.

“If we are going to ignore our own rules, it requires a little higher standard,” Candland said.

That motion still failed, but Candland, Caddigan and May voted in favor of it.

Read also "LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Candland Pledges to Continue Fight for Government Accountability." 

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