In the military, the word ROE stands for “rules of relationship” and they are suggestions that soldiers use to determine when and how they can use power in a battle condition, but in a , Jasper County Veterans Affairs Commission  , meeting it is the values and regulations committee members adhere to maintain order.
Commission on , Oct. 9 , unanimously approved the proposed rules and will work them into potential discussions. The plan to include rules of engagement — or “rules of decorum” as it was often referred — was first presented by payment secretary , Fred Chabot , after current conferences got heated and sparked backlash.
These new rules state board members shall process being on time, being prepared, constantly hear, never speak over others, limit side conversations, follow the agenda, stay on topic, respect colleagues and guests, turn off cellphones and allow people comment at the end of the meeting unless required before.
Before the commission’s approval, Chabot argued that “rules of engagement” might not be the appropriate phrase to use and that” core values” would be a more accurate translation. In any case, Chabot and his fellow commissioners agreed that the rules should be in place from now until the next meeting.
When Chabot first introduced the concept, he compared the foundational principles to the mission, vision, objectives, commitments, and core values that the Newton school board had established when he was first elected to the governing body in the 1990s. This adage is still in use today and is recited before each board meeting.
At the September meeting, Chabot said,” I think ground rules are a good guide for this group in terms of how we behave, how our staff behaves at these meetings, and I think it would be appropriate to add a bullet point or two in regards to what our expectations are of attendees from the general public.”
At the October meeting, commissioner , Katherine Thompson , presented the rules that would eventually be adopted by her fellow commissioners.
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