Council committee plans to amend rules so chair or vice chair remain in post when no clear majority elects leadership

Members of the Administrative Policy & Rules committee discussed clarifying a provision of the committee rules that currently says the committee "shall elect a chairman and a vice chair at our first meeting in January" but is vague about what happens when the vote results in no clear majority.

Committee Chair Pryor said the current language is "kinda vague" and proposed an amendment to state that when no clear majority emerges the incumbent chair or vice chair will continue to serve until the next full council meeting that considers the matter. "I wanted it to be in writing," Pryor said, noting attorney advice that incumbents continue to serve but recommending the committee put the rule into plain text.

Members discussed that the clarification would eliminate reliance on custom and make procedure "black and white for everybody to see." No final vote occurred; the committee agreed to take the proposed amendment up at the Rules & Policy committee meeting on April 3 and then, if approved, forward it to full council.