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Committee proposes code changes to streamline council committee structure; names and focus to be set by resolution
Summary
Town staff and council members discussed proposed municipal code amendments on April 20 to clarify committee roles and streamline the standing-committee structure; the committee unanimously recommended forwarding an ordinance to council that would set committee size and require committees to forward matters to full council for consideration.
Town staff and council members discussed an ordinance change on April 20 to clarify the town council's committee framework and the process by which committee items advance to the full council.
System Manager Sean Cohen reviewed the current code (section 2-5-60), noting the code currently names three standing committees and provides that the mayor appoints members. Cohen described two options for the committee's role: (1) committee as gatekeeper, where items not required by law can die in committee unless the mayor or a majority of council asks to advance, and (2) committee as preparatory body that takes action (recommend approval, recommend denial, no recommendation or table) and forwards items to full council for final action.
Council members expressed strong support for option 2, saying committees should flush out issues and forward matters to full council rather than block them. Several members said the town's strategic plan should drive committee work and that the code should provide flexibility on naming and focus so the council can adjust committees to match strategic priorities. Several councilmembers favored reducing the number of standing committees to two (or 'at least two' in ordinance language) and setting composition at three councilmembers and an alternate appointed by the mayor.
On a motion from Councilwoman Bridal, the committee voted to recommend to the full town council an ordinance amendment that would: require the town to have at least two standing committees; specify each committee shall be composed of three town council members and an alternate who is also a council member; and direct that committee names and areas of focus be set by council resolution. The recommended ordinance also would add a subsection specifying permitted committee actions (recommend approval, recommend denial, or offer no recommendation) and that items considered by committee proceed to the full council agenda with the mayor's approval.
Committee members asked staff to return ordinance language that leaves committee names and focus adaptable to the strategic plan and to present committee rules and procedures by resolution so they can be updated without repeated code changes.
