WAC 16-750-135   State noxious weed control board -- Meetings.  (1) All meetings of the board are open and public and all persons are permitted to attend any meeting of the board, except as otherwise provided in the Open Public Meetings Act, chapter 42.30 RCW.

     (2) Members of the public are not required, as a condition to attendance at a board meeting, to register names, other information, or otherwise to fulfill any condition prior to attending.

     (3) Interruptions. In the event that any meeting is interrupted by any person as to render the orderly conduct of the meeting unfeasible, and order cannot be restored by the removal of individuals who are interrupting the meeting, the chairperson may order the meeting room cleared and continue in session or may adjourn the meeting and reconvene at another location selected by a majority vote of the board members present. In such a session, the board will follow the procedures set forth in the Open Public Meetings Act (RCW 42.30.050).

     (4) Adoption of rules, regulations, resolution, etc. The board shall not adopt any rules, regulations, resolution, etc. except in a meeting open to the public and then only at a meeting, the date of which is fixed by rule, or at a meeting of which notice has been given according to the provisions of the Open Public Meetings Act. Any action taken at meetings failing to comply with this section is null and void.

     (5) Regular meetings -- Schedule -- Publication in State Register -- Notice of change. The board will meet once every two months and at other times determined by the chairperson or by a majority of the voting members. If any regular meeting falls on a holiday, the meeting will be held on the next business day. The executive secretary files with the code reviser a schedule of the time and place of regular meetings on or before January of each year for publication in the Washington State Register. Notice of any change from this meeting schedule will be published in the State Register for distribution at least twenty days prior to the rescheduled meeting date.

     (6) Notice. Ten days notice of all meetings will be given by mailing a copy of the notice and agenda to each board member, county noxious weed control board, and weed district.

     (7) Special meetings. The ten-day notice may be waived for special meetings which may be called at any time by the chairperson, director, or a majority of the voting board members. Special meeting notification shall follow the procedures for special meetings set forth in the Open Public Meetings Act (RCW 42.30.080).

     (8) Adjournments. If a meeting is adjourned before the advertised time, a written notice will be posted at the meeting place that specifies when the meeting was adjourned.

     (9) Executive sessions.

     (a) The board may hold an executive session during a regular meeting which may be called by the chairperson or a majority of voting board members present. No official actions will be taken at executive sessions. Executive sessions may deal only with matters authorized by RCW 42.30.110.

     (b) Before convening in executive session, the chairperson shall publicly announce the purpose of excluding the public from the meeting place and the time when the executive session will be concluded. The executive session may be extended to a later time by announcement of the chairperson.

     (10) Agenda. The agenda will be prepared by the executive secretary in consultation with the chairperson. Items may be submitted by all board members to the executive secretary at least fifteen days prior to the board meeting.

     (11) Attendance. Each board member is expected to attend all board and assigned committee meetings. In the event a board member is unable to attend, he or she is requested to provide the chairperson or executive secretary with the reasons for the absence prior to the meeting. Any voting member who misses two consecutive board meetings without providing the chairperson or the executive secretary with the reasons for the absences prior to the meeting may be removed from the board, following due notice and a hearing. Removal procedures may be initiated by a quorum vote of the board.

     (12) Voting procedures. Board voting procedures on all matters are as follows:

     (a) Five voting members constitute a quorum to conduct the affairs of the board.

     (b) The chairperson may vote on all matters coming before the board.

     (c) A roll call of all voting board members present may be requested on all motions by any member.

     (d) All members have the right to move or second motions.

     (e) Proxy voting is not permitted.

     (13) Minutes. The minutes of all regular and special meetings, except executive sessions, will be promptly recorded and such records are open to public inspection.

     (14) Press releases. All press releases and official information concerning board activities will be released from the board office.

     (15) Public participation.

     (a) Any person wishing to make a formal presentation at a regularly scheduled meeting of the board must notify the executive secretary of the subject matter at least fifteen days before the meeting.

     (b) Permission to appear before the board will be granted by the executive secretary in consultation with the chairperson before the meeting. Permission includes the date and time of the meeting and the time set for formal presentation.

     (c) The chairperson may, at his or her discretion, recognize anyone in the audience who indicates at the time of the meeting a desire to speak.



[Statutory Authority: Chapter 17.10 RCW. 99-24-029, § 16-750-135, filed 11/23/99, effective 1/3/00; 93-01-004, § 16-750-135, filed 12/2/92, effective 1/2/93.]