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Commissioners Hovis, Shehan, & Fraley - County Attorney - To Approve Resolution Updating the Board’s Procedures on Working with Professional Staff
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STAFF CONTACT
Melissa Huffman - Acting County Attorney
Brian Sciba - Deputy County Manager
BUDGET IMPACT
budget
N/A
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BACKGROUND
Gaston County has adopted the “Board-Manager” form of local government, whereby the Board hires a professional manager who is responsible for hiring, supervising, directing, and disciplining essentially all county employees, subject to the general policy direction of the Board.
POLICY IMPACT
The proposed Resolution would:
1. Amend Rule 41 of the Board’s Procedures (2023-189) to require that commissioners route all questions and request for staff to the appropriate department director or a higher-ranking manager. Employees would then be required to report non-routine inquiries to the County Manager. The County Manager may share any answers to the entire Board and is required to do so if the “County Manager determines that the information involves a matter of substantial public interest, required substantial resources to prepare, or would otherwise substantially benefit the entire Board.”
2. Amend Rule 49 of the Board’s Procedures to make clear that the Board is responsible for setting general personnel policies. Once established, the County Manager is legally responsible for carrying out those policies. The Manager’s job is then to direct and supervise all subordinate county employees. As such, no single commissioner may direct the conduct or activities of any county employee, except through the County Manager.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution