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Council Divided Over How to Handle Budget—s Embedded Ordinances; Members Clash Over Committee Process
Summary
A procedural dispute dominated council discussion: some aldermen urged referring ordinance changes to subject standing committees to allow public input; others argued the committee-of-the-whole should decide while all members were present. That procedural fight substantially lengthened the session.
After the public hearing on the proposed 2026 budget, the Common Council spent much of the Oct. 30 session in repeated procedural debate over how to handle the two-dozen-or-so ordinance changes bundled with the budget book.
Some aldermen pressed to refer most bill drafts to subject standing committees — public safety and licensing, public works and services, and finance — arguing those panels have subject-matter expertise and give the public more chances to comment. "When these items appear on a committee agenda the public has the ability to come in because it's…
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