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Commission reviews updated boards and commissions handbook; asks staff for clarifications and enforcement language
Summary
Staff presented a streamlined draft of the City of Livingston’s boards and commissions handbook to align with a recently adopted conflict‑of‑interest policy. Commissioners requested edits on language about board authority, disclosure forms and grievance/enforcement procedures and asked staff to return with revised draft and bylaws.
City staff presented a revised boards and commissions handbook on Tuesday intended to reflect recently adopted conflict‑of‑interest rules and to streamline outdated text. Commissioners generally praised the condensed draft but requested clarifications and stronger language on how boards and commissions interact with staff and the city commission.
City Manager Mister Gager said the draft integrates the city’s conflict‑of‑interest policy and includes a disclosure form modeled on the commission’s form. Commissioners raised several points: require disclosure forms as part of onboarding, an annual reminder to update disclosures, clearer prohibitions on boards directing staff or purporting to represent the city, and a defined grievance/enforcement path.
Vice Chair Nudsen and Commissioner Huggins asked staff to return with language that makes explicit boards and commissions do not have authority to direct assigned staff and that subcommittees and ad‑hoc groups must comply with Montana open‑meeting law. Huggins also asked staff to consider whether disclosure forms should be mandatory for new appointees before they participate and whether the form should be updated annually.
Commissioners asked staff to prepare bylaws for several boards that would reinforce these expectations. The commission asked staff to bring back a revised handbook that includes improved wording on staff relationships, the disclosure form rollout and grievance/discipline options drawn from the city commission’s existing code of conduct, with attention to differences between elected commissioners and appointed board members.
No final adoption occurred on Tuesday; staff will revise the handbook and return with bylaws and proposed enforcement language for further Commission consideration.
