The three commissioners elected to the Bryan County Board of Commissioners took their seats for the first time Tuesday afternoon, and the first order of business was a new meeting schedule.
Jimmy Henderson from District 5, Carter Infinger from District 4 and Wade Price from District 2 were actually sworn in the day before – at 11 a.m. on Monday at the county administrative complex in South Bryan in front of their family and friends, according to Phil Jones, the county administrator. But the first regular meeting for the new commissioners was Tuesday in the commissioners’ boardroom in the courthouse in Pembroke.
During the meeting, board unanimously approved a new meeting schedule on Tuesday. The board’s regular meetings will now be at 5:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month, alternating between the courthouse in Pembroke and the administrative complex south of Richmond Hill.
The next meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 8 at the administrative complex south of Richmond Hill.
Infinger said the meetings should be the same time on both ends on the county and suggested they take place at 5:30 p.m. because it gives people who work during the day a chance to attend.
Jones said holding meetings at the same time on the same day would be best in terms of consistency.
Richmond Hill resident Chris Morse, who previously ran for the District 4 seat, said people living in South Bryan won’t come to the meeting in Pembroke because they wouldn’t get home until at least 10 p.m.
Infinger said that scenario works both ways and noted that people in North Bryan who attend meetings in South Bryan also wouldn’t get home until late.
Commissioner Glen Willard pointed out that the commissioners can change the time of the meetings if the new schedule doesn’t work out.
Commission Chairman Jimmy Burnsed added that if anyone had “heart burn,” the board could adjust accordingly.
In other business, Bryan County will be hiring a new attorney. Charles Brown has been the county attorney for a number of years but would like to retire, Jones told commissioners.
County commissioners will advertise the position, start collecting resumes and review candidates, which could take between three and four months. In the meantime, Brown was re-appointed to his position.