Ordinance committee requests city solicitor opinion on rule barring city employees from serving on council

The Ordinance Committee on Sept. 10 asked the city solicitor’s office to prepare a legal opinion on an ordinance provision that prohibits employees of the city from simultaneously serving on the city council. The request came after members said the subject deserves full legal review and clear ordinance drafting.

Why it matters: The question implicates conflicts of interest, charter constraints and state law. Councilors said they wanted a formal legal opinion and draft ordinance language so the committee could consider whether the restriction should remain, be modified or be clarified.

What happened: Committee members debated procedure and fairness of letting older orders linger on the docket; several urged the committee to proceed with a formal legal opinion rather than dismissing the order. The committee voted unanimously (5–0) to request a legal opinion and draft language from the law department for the next meeting.

Next steps: City Solicitor to provide written legal opinion and a draft ordinance or recommended edits for committee review.

Ending: The committee left the matter in legal review; a formal opinion will determine whether the existing ban should be retained or revised.