West County members say they don’t want to discuss “history” and Chair refuses to go over the six specific areas contained in evaluation review document up for discussion; Chevalier seeks opportunity for Board to discuss how to achieve a consensus on difficult issues
Governing Board representative Paul Chevalier appeared to send shivers up and down the backs of the west-county voting bloc (Chair Ray Sigafoos, secretary Steve Irwin, member Pat McCarver) when he asked that they discuss the six-part self-evaluation the members had completed and included in the February agenda for “review.” When he made the initial request, the Board fell silent with only Deb McCasland stating she agreed with Mr. Chevalier.
In his comments to the review compilation, Chevalier wrote that section 3.1.1.1 of the Board policy regarding proper notice that:
“A September, 2016 retreat action is a glaring example of failure to comply. Legal Counsel Adams, in the past, instructed this Board that `agendas must list specific matters to be discussed, considered or decided at the meeting. She defined ‘specific’ as follows: ‘Common sense test: Agendas must contain enough information reasonably necessary to inform the public of the matters to be discussed or decided.’ At the September Retreat the west side Board voted to suspend the Verde Valley Board Advisory Committee even though this was not a specific matter on the agenda. None of the following people were informed: The two Board representatives of the east side, the VVBAC members and the public in general. Ask any of them if you doubt me. As a result, Board member Filardo resigned.”
He also wrote that:
“At a Board meeting in 2016 the Board Chair refused the committee’s request to have the Board meet with it to discuss its recommendations. The Board Chair (at the time Pat McCarver) refusing the request stated publicly that she does not meet with committees.”
Sigafoos and McCarver both indicated that these incidents were past history and should not be discussed. Deb McCasland and Chevalier disagreed.
Chevalier went on to write that:
“The group is not a body that acts as a team. You have east side representatives and west side representatives. The west siders are the majority and, to the best of my knowledge, rarely accept important recommendations of the east siders. No compromise, no consensus and no sharing of Board leadership with the east siders is the majority practice. It needs to change.”
Chevalier pushed Chair Ray Sigafoos to find a way the Governing Board could discuss the issues he had raised. He suggested a future retreat, workshop or meeting. Sigafoos appeared reluctant to do so but eventually indicated he might.
You may view this unusual Board discussion on the video clip below.