The Globe has learned that Washoe County Commission Chairwoman Alexis Hill (she/her/hers) has unilaterally canceled the upcoming March 12th county board meeting due to a trip she is scheduled to take as the Chairwoman of the Tahoe Transportation District.

Despite having the needed quorum for the meeting, Hill has asked County Manager Eric Brown to reschedule potentially two upcoming meetings due to her scheduling conflicts.

Insiders within county government are “outraged” and suggest that her cancellation was due to the fact that the meeting was going to be packed with dozens of homeless advocates and related organizations to protest a proposed ordinance that would prohibit people from living in their cars on public roadways.

The ordinance is supported by Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam and has been  adopted by the City of Reno and the City of Sparks.

As Hill is running for reelection, insiders believe she is avoiding a controversial vote and her motives are politically driven.

“One person, who happens to be the chair while running for reelection, has a complete stranglehold on Washoe County government,” an insider who wished to remain anonymous told The Globe. “No county business can be conducted when she is gone, despite having a quorum? What the hell is happening here? She needs to step down as chair while she is running for reelection.”

As a courtesy to constituents, it has been historically custom for the chair of the commission to relinquish the position when running for reelection. Former Washoe County Commission Chair Bob Lucey did so when he ran for reelection. Lucey was defeated by Commissioner Mike Clark.

Clark told The Globe, “Is the chair indispensable? Even with the chair being absent, we have a quorum. If the chair has to be unavailable, that is why we have a Vice Chair. In consideration to the rest of the board, it would have been proper and customary to include us in this decision.”

Hill’s Republican challenger Marsha Berkbigler told The Globe, “This is a hot issue to the constituents and the homeless population in Washoe County. You don’t cancel a meeting if you have a quorum. You need to have the meeting and allow the county to do the business on behalf of the people.”

Attempts to reach Alexis Hill for comment were unsuccessful.