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Draft community-council ordinance to move from elected to appointed membership draws questions
Summary
Council members asked county staff about a draft ordinance that would standardize council sizes (proposed 7 members) and shift selection from elected to appointed; staff said the change aims to lower barriers and will be discussed at a Jan. 8 public hearing.
Community council members raised questions Dec. 17 about a draft community council ordinance that would change how members are selected and the proposed standard council size.
At the meeting, a council member identified as Kelly asked why the draft would increase Community Council membership from five to seven and whether the bylaw process would require additional hearings. “...why, if we're struggling to fill a ballot, we would like to have 7 on our Community Council instead of 5,” Kelly said, noting concerns about small or rural councils that sometimes struggle to recruit members.
County staff encouraged council members to follow up with staff and submit formal comments for a public hearing. Meeting facilitators said the draft ordinance will be heard at the Board of County Commissioners’ public meeting on Thursday, Jan. 8 at 2 p.m. Staff asked councils to send comments to Chris Lounsbury, who is tracking feedback for the hearing.
Chet (county staff referenced during discussion) described the intention behind the proposal as lowering participation barriers: shifting from elected seats that require ballot access to an appointment process similar to other advisory boards, and simplifying bylaw procedures so they can be handled administratively rather than through multiple higher-level approvals. He said those details should be discussed with Kyla (staff) for clarification.
Tom Browder, speaking for his area, said he favors a seven-member council, noting that when his council is full it better represents local constituencies and makes a difference in functioning. Several participants asked that staff consider differences among communities (for example, Lolo, Houston, Seeley Lake) when finalizing any changes.
What happens next: The ordinance draft is scheduled for a public hearing on Jan. 8; staff invited councils to submit written comments to Chris Lounsbury and to consult Kyla for clarifications on membership and bylaw procedures. No formal action or vote occurred during the Dec. 17 meeting.
