Mayor schedules special meeting to name bond committee; council members seek clearer wording and appointment process

Mayor Roy West announced a special meeting on Friday to appoint a committee related to the city bond program, prompting council members to request clearer language and processes for naming and appointing the panel.

Councilman Corey Crenshaw said several residents asked that the city avoid the term "oversight" because it suggests the committee would have authority that the council or board legally retains. "I would ask that, when we do the the bond oversight committee ... if we could please look at not using the term oversight," Crenshaw said, urging a name such as "bond accountability" or "bond transparency" committee to avoid public confusion.

The city attorney explained that chapter 2 of the city ordinance outlines how boards and commissions are created and that some committees are commonly appointed solely by the mayor; the attorney said such mayoral appointments are not unusual and that the council could amend the ordinance if it preferred different appointment rules. Mayor West said the special meeting timing was driven by scheduling and that the council retains final say on appointments; he acknowledged he should have included the item earlier on a regular agenda but defended the selected appointees as respected community members.

Several council members urged better internal communication and restraint on social media, with Councilman Turner recommending that the body formally amend its ordinance if members want different appointment or naming rules. Councilwoman Sherwood suggested more education about committee creation and the limits of advisory bodies to reduce public suspicion.

Ending: The special meeting will proceed; council members signaled interest in clarifying committee names and, if desired, pursuing an ordinance amendment to change appointment authority or naming conventions.