State regulators have little to say after meeting with governor’s staff

By Cy Ryan

Thursday, July 22, 2010 | 1:26 a.m.

CARSON CITY — Representatives of state boards and commissions attending the first meeting with the staff of Gov. Jim Gibbons had little to say after the session.

As they were leaving the two-hour meeting, they were asked if they learned anything or if the session was a waste of time. The near unanimous comment was “no comment.”

They had been called together with the governor’s staff to talk about consolidation and how to improve services.

After the session, state Budget Director Andrew Clinger said the meeting opened communications with the occupational boards and commissions that operate on their own regulating professions. He said there would be future meetings but in smaller groups.

He said it was too early to begin talk of consolidation.

Dan Burns, public information officer for Gibbons, said the governor’s staff listened to complaints from board representatives about possible roadblocks to doing their jobs.

The boards operate independently, and there was discussion about requiring employees of these boards to take unpaid furloughs one day a month like the bulk of state workers.

One board representative, according to a source, said the board was independent and didn’t have to follow the furlough policy. But Burns said there were a lot of “best practices” discussed.

This is the first time such a meeting has been conducted, Burns said. The recommendations, when they are made, will be turned over to the new governor, who will be elected in November. He said Gibbons has pledged to work with the incoming governor for a smooth transition.

The boards are supported by fees collected from industries for regulation.