The Guilford County commissioners only hold a regular meeting in the morning once every two years, and it’s always a very nice meeting for a number of reasons. The commissioners' meeting room in the Old Guilford County Court House usually has Christmas decorations up; the outgoing commissioners say their parting words, and the new commissioners – as well as those reelected – are sworn into office while their families stand with them.

The official name of the meeting that will take place on Monday, Dec. 5 is the “Guilford County Commissioners Organizational Meeting,” which sounds boring, but the morning meetings every other year are not boring at all. Plus, there are free refreshments after the meeting.

The 10 a.m. meeting will take place on the second floor of the old court house at 301 W. Market St. in downtown Greensboro That morning elected and reelected county commissioners will take their oath of office for their upcoming four-year terms.

The board will also, that morning, reelect Chairman of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners Skip Alston to that leadership position and reelect Commissioner Carlvena Foster to the vice chair seat.

It’s always interesting to see who the commissioners choose for their swearing-in ceremony. Here’s the list for the December meeting …

Newly elected District 3 commissioner Patrick Tillman, who’s taking over that seat from Commissioner Justin Conrad, will be sworn in by Guilford County District Court Judge Michelle Fletcher.

Foster, the board’s District 1 commissioner, will be sworn in by Guilford County Chief District Court Judge Teresa Vincent.

District 7 Commissioner Frankie Jones, who was appointed to that seat earlier this year after the death of former Commissioner Carolyn Coleman and then elected to the seat in November, will be administered the oath of office by Superior Court Judge Lora Cubbage.

Reelected District 2 Commissioner Alan Perdue will be sworn in by District Court Judge Marc Tyrey, who’ll also do the honors for reelected At-Large Commissioner Kay Cashion.