At the first meeting of each calendar year, the Board of Supervisors reorganizes, selecting its chair and vice chair, updating its rules of procedure, establishing the list of standing and ad hoc committees and appointing board members to committees, and discussing prior year accomplishments and new year goals and challenges. Preparation for the annual reorganization meeting requires many weeks of staff effort, under the direction of the board chair.
The board of supervisors votes to select its officers following a nomination process. Although not a requirement, the board has traditionally rotated the offices of chair and vice chair among the five members, i.e., each member would serve as chair at least once during his/her term of office. This rotation has historically been interrupted only due to changes in membership or absence due to illness.
The Chair serves as presiding officer of the Board; rules on questions of procedure; nominates for Board approval representatives to Board committees whose appointment is not otherwise provided for; signs resolutions, ordinances, contracts, leases and other official documents approved by the Board; preserves order and decorum; and decides all questions of order. The Chair may consult with County Counsel in making such rulings. Decisions of the Chair may be overruled by a majority vote of the Board of Supervisors.
The Vice-Chair has and may exercise all powers and duties of the Chair at the meetings at which the Chair is absent.
If neither the Chair nor the Vice-Chair is present at a Board meeting, the Board members present selects one of their members to act as the Chair Pro Tempore. The Chair Pro Tempore shall have and exercise all the powers and duties of the Chair for that particular meeting only.
In past years, the board has selected its officers at the January reorganization meeting. Because the reorganization requires substantial thought and planning, early selection of new year officers would permit the incoming board chair to take an active role in planning for the annual reorganization. Early selection of officers going forward would necessitate changes to the following Rules of Procedure for Board of Supervisors Meetings, as shown in attached Resolution No. 2019/500, Attachment A:
- Rule 3: Organization Meeting
- Rule 6: Annual Selection of Chair and Vice Chair
It is also recommended to incorporate rules for electronic attendance by Supervisors at board meetings, which are added in Section 14 of the Rules, and restricting certain types of devices from being brought into the board chambers, which is addressed in Rule 15.
Planning and administrative of the annual board reorganization may take longer to implement if the 2020 board officers are not decided in the fall of 2019.