# Hearing Examiner Proposes Code Clarifications to County Planning Committee The Whatcom County Planning and Development Committee convened for a brief but substantive session on July 22, 2025, to review three proposed changes to county code related to the Hearing Examiner's role and authority. What was scheduled as a 20-minute meeting stretched to 26 minutes as committee members engaged in thoughtful discussion about the proposals and whether they should be subject to public hearings. ## Meeting Overview Committee Chair Ben Elenbaas called the hybrid meeting to order at 1:03 p.m. in Council Chambers, with committee members Todd Donovan and Jon Scanlon present. Also attending were council members Barry Buchanan, Tyler Byrd, Kaylee Galloway, and Mark Stremler. The agenda focused entirely on three related agenda bills concerning the Hearing Examiner's operations, all presented by Hearing Examiner Rajeev Majumdar himself—a rare opportunity for direct dialogue between the examiner and his "bosses," as he noted with humor. ## Title 2…