Jonesboro nominating committee forwards council rules update, committee reorganization and appointments to full council

The Jonesboro Nominating and Rules Committee voted on multiple procedural items at a special called meeting, forwarding an ordinance to amend council rules, a resolution creating a multimodal connectivity committee and an amended appointments resolution to the full City Council, and approving a plan to dissolve the public services committee and reassign its functions.

The committee moved the ordinance, Ordinance 25-0008, to the full council after a brief read-through of housekeeping changes. The chair summarized the changes as mostly editorial and said the ordinance “is just a rewording to include, cell phones and other electronic devices.” The proposed amendments to Chapter 2, Article 3 include new language about electronic devices in Section 2-84 (requiring devices be silenced or turned off unless needed to conduct business); revisions to voting abstention language in Section 2-85(d) (permitting abstention if a member did not participate in the discussion or states a valid reason); a provision that members notify the presiding officer if arriving late to ensure an accurate quorum; and a redefinition of the Nominating and Rules Committee membership that allocates specific seats by ward on odd and even years so “the entire city is represented on nominating and rules moving forward.” A committee member moved to “walk this on to full council this evening,” a second was given, and members cast an electronic vote that the chair said carried.

The committee also considered Resolution 25-0014, described in the meeting as creating a Jonesboro Multimodal Connectivity Committee and presented by the mayor's office. A motion and second were made to forward the resolution to the full council; the committee then voted.

On Resolution 25-0015, which would make appointments and reappointments to boards and commissions as recommended by Mayor Kofenhaver, the committee amended the resolution for procedural transparency. The committee chair said, “I would like to amend this resolution to remove the appointment of Brian Emerson to AMP until after the AMP meets next Monday at 04:45,” and also sought to remove the appointment of Jason Chandler to the Airport Commission “since Brandon wishes to fulfill his full term.” Committee members also asked that John Williams be removed from the list so AMP can complete its internal process before any appointment to that unexpired term is finalized. The committee approved the amendment by voice vote and later voted to forward the amended appointments resolution to the full council.

In a separate communication (25-5005), the chair proposed dissolving the public services committee and reassigning its functions: airport-related items would move to Finance, and parks and cemetery matters would move to Public Works, with hearings as needed. The chair said the mayor prefers that director reports come before the entire council rather than a single committee. A motion to approve the committee changes passed by voice vote.

During the brief public comment period the chair opened, a resident reminded Mayor Kofenhaver of a prior commitment related to a library board appointment, saying he had attended a pre-runoff meeting where the mayor reportedly promised to present the appointee at a future meeting. The mayor replied he would check his recollection.

The committee adjourned after the votes.

Votes at a glance: - Ordinance 25-0008 (amend Jonesboro Code of Ordinances, Ch. 2, Art. 3 — council rules and procedures): Motion to walk to full council; electronic vote carried (tally not specified). - Resolution 25-0014 (create Jonesboro Multimodal Connectivity Committee): Motion to forward to full council; committee voted (tally not specified). - Resolution 25-0015 (appointments/reappointments as recommended by Mayor Kofenhaver): Committee approved amendment removing certain appointments (Brian Emerson, Jason Chandler, John Williams) and forwarded the amended resolution to full council; voice vote passed. - Communication 25-5005 (dissolve public services committee and reassign functions): Motion approved by voice vote; passed.

The committee handled procedural and organizational matters; no final appointments or ordinance adoptions occurred during this meeting — the items were forwarded for full council consideration.