The Charter Review Commission voted on Sept. 20 to send a letter to the mayor and city council requesting action on a pending appropriation for the commission and discussed hiring and job structure for a recording secretary and interpreter services.

Commission members heard that a request for funds had been submitted to the finance director (Mr. Kelly). Ed (a commission speaker) said he had emailed the finance director and the managing director requesting an appropriation of essentially $15,000 with the possibility of an additional $5,000 (total requested up to $20,000). Finance Director Kelly reportedly told the commission that council would need to approve an appropriation by ordinance: the ordinance process requires introduction and a 14-day waiting period and therefore could take up to a month.

Commissioner Mister Rivera moved that the commission send a letter to Mayor Eddie Moran and city council asking about the status of the commission’s budget request; Sheila Perez seconded. Commissioner Dave proposed an amendment asking the mayor and council to vote to approve the appropriation; the amendment was accepted. The motion as amended passed on an aye vote. The chair said he would draft the letter and circulate it by email for comment the following day, with members asked to submit edits by 3:30 p.m.

Commissioners also discussed hiring a recording secretary and interpreter/translator services. They agreed that hiring conversations for personnel or contractor roles that include confidential items should occur in executive session. Several commissioners suggested consulting the city human-resources office to assist with recruitment; others noted there is no dedicated commission budget yet to pay contractors. The commission decided to place hiring of a recording secretary and interpreter services on the next meeting’s agenda and schedule an executive session to review candidates and job descriptions. Commissioners discussed two possible approaches: (1) a volunteer recording secretary drawn from the commission membership (a non-paid position), or (2) a paid recording secretary/translator hired after council appropriation and an executive-session hiring process.

Separately, the commission nominated and elected Adela Rodriguez as the commission’s volunteer secretary. Rodriguez accepted the nomination and the motion was seconded; the body approved the appointment by voice vote.