By Virginia Bridges
Durham County officials have pulled a resolution fron tonight's agenda that opposed a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage and civil unions.
The Durham County Board of Commissioners was scheduled to discuss the resolution at its 7 p.m. Monday meeting. At 7:25 a.m. Saturday morning, Deborah Craig-Ray, county spokeswoman, sent out an email indicating the resolution had been removed from the agenda.
On Monday morning County Manager Mike Ruffin said the item was pulled on advice from County Attorney Lowell Siler.
“(Siler) did not believe a discussion was appropriate,” Ruffin said. Ruffin added he was not in the office or involved in the discussion. Siler couldn’t immediately be reached for comment Monday morning.
Other governments have passed resolutions for and against the amendment, including the Wake County commissioners, who passed a resolution supporting the amendment, and the Durham City Council and Chapel Hill Town Council, which passed resolutions opposing it.
Since the agenda item was pulled, members of the public will not be allowed to comment on the issue, Ruffin said.
Comments
Hiding behing Siler's skirts?
Mon, 04/23/2012 - 17:25 — cleoboOnce again certain members of the BOCC are hiding behind Lowell Siler's skirts. As far as I can tell, only Ellen Reckhow has come out strongly against Amendment One. Page, Bowser, Howerton, and Karriker are either for it, or are afraid to make a statement. Even if it's not on the agenda tonight, they could make theur views known. The Durham City Council came out against the amendment weeks ago. What's wrong with the BOCC?
That's rhetorical, I think I already know what's wrong with them.
I am AGAINST Amendment One.
Mon, 04/23/2012 - 12:54 — WillWilsonI am AGAINST Amendment One. It's bad for families, bad for children, bad for our economy.
Will Wilson, Candidate, Durham's Board of County Commissioners
County Attorney Lowell Siler's phone number
Mon, 04/23/2012 - 11:26 — gernblCounty Attorney Lowell Siler's work phone number is 919-560-0708.
Siler?
Mon, 04/23/2012 - 10:24 — braginSiler's gotta go. Nearly 20% of North Carolina counties have passed resolutions relating to this amendment. Why is this inappropriate for Durham?
Could it be that a mjority of our BoCC members are out of step with their constituents, and with a primary election coming up don't want to be put on the record? And is Lowell Siler's office once again engaging in electoral politics, outside of their actual jobs?
Disgusting.