Politics & Government
UPDATE: Tam Ousted as Commission Chairman
Forsyth County Commissioners Patrick Bell, Todd Levent and Jim Boff voted to end Brian Tam's reign as chairman at last night's Board of Commissioners meeting. First-term Commissioner Boff will take over.
UPDATE: 1/6/2012, 1 p.m. (quotes from commissioners)
For the past year, Forsyth County commissioners have complained, anonymously, about what they describe as Chairman Brian Tam's "bullying" and "heavy-handed" methods in getting his way. Thursday, they did something about it.
At the first meeting of the new year, they voted 3-2, with Tam and District 1 Commissioner Pete Amos opposed, to take away Tam's chairmanship and replace him with District 5 Commissioner Jim Boff.
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"I had the opportunity to speak with Commissioner Boff this afternoon and wish him well," Tam said. He then turned to Boff and asked, "Are you ready for this?"
Boff replied, "With everybody's prayers and good will, I think so." With that, Boff assumed his new role as chairman.
Find out what's happening in Cummingwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
District 1 Commissioner Pete Amos said Friday he wasn't surprised by the board's action. "Jim Boff will do a good job," he said. "He's been on the board for three years and has the experience. So I think he'll do a good job."
District 4 Commissioner Patrick Bell said, "From my standpoint, this wasn't done for any type punishment. I just wanted to move in a little different direction."
Commissioners also moved to limit the power of board chairmen. Under the new Rules and Procedures adopted last night, chairmen no longer have the authority to unilaterally add to or remove an item from the agenda without the approval of at least one other commissioner.
"That brings us back around to where we're a true five-man board with everyone being equal," Bell said.
Commissioners also changed the way intergovernmental agreements (IGA) are approved. For the past year, passage has required a super majority. That remains the same. However if a proposed IGA fails to receive a super majority, any commissioner can request a public hearing and following that hearing it can be approved by a simple majority vote.
In other business, the board held a first reading of proposed modifications to the Parks and Recreation Rules and Regulations Ordinance. No action was taken and a second reading was set for February. Also, District 3 Commissioner Todd Levent appointed Forsyth resident, Kimberly Brown, to the Parks and Recreation Board.
