Lead approves first reading of ordinance revising city organization code; personnel code of conduct added

Lead — The Lead City Commission on Aug. 19 approved the first reading of Ordinance 11‑o‑2‑24, which reforms parts of the city organization code and places a code of conduct into the personnel policy.

Mayor read the ordinance’s changes to Title 3, Chapter 33, including renaming the Planning & Zoning body to the Planning and Zoning (P&Z) Commission, clarifying trustee and commission titles for the library and historic preservation bodies, setting staggered appointment terms, and codifying a code of conduct for commissioners, volunteers and city employees into the personnel manual.

Resident Gordon questioned whether the governing body properly followed state law when preparing ordinance revisions, citing a statute that authorizes a committee appointment 'not oftener than once every five years' to prepare ordinance revisions. Gordon urged pausing the ordinance until the city attorney confirmed the process. The mayor and staff said the revisions were prepared by competent staff and reviewed by the city attorney and would be taken under advisement.

Commissioner (speaker 11) moved — then amended — to approve the first reading of Ordinance 11‑o‑2‑24 and to revise the historic preservation section so it mirrors the language used for the other volunteer boards (add subsections a–d). The motion was seconded and passed by voice vote. John (city staff) will provide the exact amended language for the second reading.

Separately, the commission considered a personnel policy change to add section 17.9 (code of conduct). Commission moved to stipulate to the reading and then voted to adopt the personnel policy change; the measure carried by voice vote.

The first reading and the personnel‑policy action were procedural steps that advance the ordinance and code‑change process; the commission scheduled further review and the drafting of exact language for the second reading.