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Committee approves several procedural housekeeping items; sends voting-specific guidance to legal for update
Summary
The committee adopted a cleanup to Rule 9(j), gave leave to withdraw on two orders (treasurer appointment and a tabling-sunset order), and voted to send a document on voting specifics back to legal for updating to reflect recent ordinance changes.
Several procedural and housekeeping orders were considered and resolved at the Jan. 27 meeting of the Charter & Rules Committee.
Rule 9(j) cleanup: The committee voted to adopt amended language to Rule 9(j) that removes redundant lines and makes the provision read: "If legal form is not provided 48 hours prior to the meeting, upon objection of any member of city council, the matter will be tabled until the next meeting." Councilors clarified that an objection means a member can request tabling when they lack time to review legal form.
Leave to withdraw: The committee granted leave to withdraw an order (filed November) that had sought to change the city treasurer from an elected to an appointed position and to combine treasurer and tax-collector offices. The maker requested withdrawal in light of an upcoming special election and potential consequences; the committee approved the leave to withdraw.
Voting specifics: The committee reviewed a document from Assistant City Solicitor Gene Manoleski titled "city council voting specifics," which lists vote thresholds and related procedures. Members said portions likely need technical updates following the council’s recent ordinance change about two‑thirds thresholds. The committee voted to send the document back to legal for revision and to seek input from ordinance members before reintroducing.
Tabling rule item: An order to remove the automatic 45-day tabling provision (concern that items remain in jackets too long) was discussed at length and the maker agreed to give the order leave to withdraw; committee members discussed alternative tactics such as scheduling jacket-review meetings or cleaning the jacket by committee action.
Each of the foregoing motions passed by voice vote. The committee asked legal to provide updated, authoritative language where statutes or the city ordinance are implicated.
Ending: Legal staff will update the voting-specific guidance and return it to committee; withdrawn orders may be refiled later with revisions.
