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Sheridan planning commissioners elect new leadership amid questions about three-year officer limit
Summary
At its March 24 meeting the Sheridan City Planning Commission elected a new chair and vice chair, acknowledged long-serving chairs exceeded a three‑year limit in their rules, and agreed to circulate proposed changes to the commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure for formal public notice.
The Sheridan City Planning Commission elected Daniel as chair and Ryan Franklin as vice chair during its March 24 regular meeting, while commissioners debated whether the commission has complied with a bylaw that limits officers to three consecutive years.
Commissioners said the commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, under "Section D: Officers," state that "No officer may hold an office more than 3 consecutive years." Commissioners also discussed records showing the outgoing chair served since 2017 and at least one predecessor served seven to nine years, which prompted questions about compliance and whether the rules need revision.
The dispute over past practice surfaced immediately after the commission took initial votes to install officers. The meeting record shows an early nomination and vote for the existing chair, followed by later nominations and a second vote that yielded Daniel as chair. Ryan Franklin was elected vice chair by voice vote. Commissioners did not record a roll-call tally for the officer elections in the meeting transcript; the votes were taken by voice with commissioners saying "aye." The commission approved its March 10, 2025 meeting minutes during the same session by voice vote.
Commissioners agreed the Rules of Practice and Procedure would need formal amendment to change the date of annual elections or to alter the three‑year limitation. Multiple speakers noted that amending those rules will require public notice. As one commissioner read from the rules during the meeting: "The Commission shall annually elect a chairman and vice chairman from its ranks. Election shall be held at the first regular meeting after March 1 of each year. . . . No officer may hold an office more than 3 consecutive years." The commission discussed whether the election date should be January or March and whether the consecutive-year limit should be adjusted to allow longer service (for example, six years) or otherwise clarified.
Commissioners asked staff to research whether state statute or the city's public meeting rules impose constraints that would affect changes to the commission rules. A staff member said the formal amendment process requires 45 days of public notice before final adoption. To move forward, the commission chair (Kelly) will circulate a redline draft of the proposed changes; commissioners were asked to submit comments by the deadline set at 8 a.m. on April 7 (the day of a city council meeting where related items will be presented).
Several commissioners described the three-year limit as a common rule for volunteer bodies but noted local practice had not always followed that provision. No explicit sanctions or corrective actions for past noncompliance are described in the Rules of Practice and Procedure as read aloud during the meeting.
The commission adjourned after completing the evening's business.
