Planning commission discusses civic‑review training, bylaws and guidance on public correspondence
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Summary
Commissioners and staff discussed updating Planning Commission bylaws (including chair voting), providing civic‑review training, clarifying virtual attendance and guidance for responding to members of the public; the commission approved meeting minutes and adjourned.
At the Oct. 9, 2025 meeting Morgan County planning staff and commissioners discussed internal operations including updating Planning Commission bylaws, providing civic‑review training for commissioners, clarifying rules on virtual attendance and how commissioners should respond to public email/comment.
Staff said the County Commission had requested updates to the Planning Commission bylaws, citing an item about whether the chair votes; commissioners said they would like that matter clarified and placed on staff’s task list for revision. Commissioners also requested clarity on virtual attendance and whether training time counts toward commission hours.
Staff proposed providing a group tutorial on CivicReview (the county’s application review system) so commissioners can see plan‑review cycles, review comments and the timeline for reviews; staff said individualized or group training will count toward commission training hours. Commissioners expressed interest in an in‑chamber training session with devices available and requested staff coordinate scheduling.
On public correspondence, staff advised commissioners that silence can be appropriate when exchanges turn personal; staff and the county attorney can help draft responses that stay within legal and procedural limits. Commissioners were told they may consult staff or the county attorney before responding and that acknowledging receipt of comments (while refraining from substantive back‑and‑forth) can be a prudent approach.
The commission approved the Sept. 11, 2025 meeting minutes and unanimously voted to adjourn.