Presentation on county environmental enforcement officers tabled after procedural dispute

A presentation about the countys environmental enforcement officers, introduced for Constable Precinct 1 Christopher Doerr on Aug. 6, was tabled for the next budget workshop after an extended procedural dispute among commissioners over whether budget issues should be raised at a regular court session. Judge Scott said the presentation "should have been in a budget workshop," noting Commissioner Gonzales had placed the item on the agenda but that no formal action would be taken. Commissioner Chesney objected repeatedly to hearing a budget-related presentation outside the court's scheduled budget workshops, saying the court had a standing practice and resolution against mid-year budget changes and that allowing the presentation "opens up another door" for other department heads to request similar treatment. Chesney moved to table the item until the upcoming budget workshop; other commissioners debated the balance between a commissioners right to place items on the agenda and the courts effort to treat budget matters in workshops. After further discussion about providing a fair opportunity to other interested law-enforcement offices and department heads, the motion to table passed 3-1. The judge and several commissioners said they would schedule the item for the next budget workshop, provide notice to all elected officials and department heads and invite interested parties to present together so the court could hear competing proposals and assess budget impacts. No budget amendment or funding decision was made at the Aug. 6 session.