Staff notes from NC Review Commission 5-15-07 meeting.

The NC Review Commission (912 Commission) continued to add to its list of findings and tentative recommendations as it prepares for the big round of public hearings this summer.

DONE’s Role--The commission felt that Department of Neighborhood Empowerment’s role should primarily be facilitative and supportive of the Neighborhood Councils rather than one of regulator.  It stressed that the city needs to share the responsibility of outreach with the Neighborhood Councils

The commissioners felt that although DONE was the agency best positioned to oversee the Neighborhood Council system, that doesn’t translate into the need for them to have more control over Neighborhood Councils.  Oversight, they decided, means helping.

BONC’s Role--After consulting with the Office of the City Attorney, the Review Commission’s Executive Director explained to the commissioners that it was very clear that the policy-making role of the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners was limited to those areas over which it had jurisdiction, and BONC certainly could not adopt policies in areas that had already been carved out by the City Council. Possible example: the Neighborhood Council Funding Program.  

The City Charter, it was explained, created BONC and DONE as it did nearly all the rest of city government.  The general manager of DONE is the head of the department and is vested with vast authority including the ability to adopt polices relating to that authority.  The commission, with some exceptions, such as certifying Neighborhood Councils, is advisory.  

The commission felt that the way in which BONC commissioners were appointed should remain unchanged.  In doing so, it rejected a proposal that, like the City Ethics Commission, each member be appointed by a different city official.

NCs Must be Involved--Throughout the meeting, the commissioners continually emphasized the importance of involving the Neighborhood Councils in the decision-making process.  DONE General Manager Carol Baker Tharp said that even though she has the ability to enact policies and procedures that affect Neighborhood Councils with a stroke of the pen, she will do so in a public way because she believes that involving the Neighborhood Councils is good public policy.

NC Elections--The commission approved a revised staff report and a whole host of recommendations regarding Neighborhood Council elections that had been postponed from the previous meeting.  

In short, the recommendations were that the Human Relations Commission would no longer have an active role in the election process; the City Clerk would run the elections; challenges would be handled by regional panels of stakeholders; and elections in each region would be held during the same period of time, but not necessarily all on the same day.  (For NCRC meeting minutes, reports, motions and other information: www.NCRCLA.org )

Editors Note: The NC Review Commission will begin its final round of public hearings in late June. In early June, CityWatch will provide you with a complete analysis of the pre-hearing decisions reached by the commission to date.