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Findlay committee questions who should form committees and how appointments should be confirmed
Summary
The ad hoc panel raised gaps between written rules and practice on forming standing and ad hoc committees, including timing of appointments after elections and whether the president or president pro tem should have appointment authority.
Committee members raised multiple concerns about how committees are formed and how membership is confirmed after an election. Speaker 1 said the rules appear to allow a president pro tem to appoint committees but noted practical problems when new councils take office before a pro tem is elected, resulting in committee vacancies and delayed meetings.
Members discussed the difference between standing committees (which some rules read as 'shall' include specific seats) and ad hoc committees (which have been treated as 'by council' in practice). Speaker 2 said giving the president responsibility to prepare committee recommendations prior to the first meeting could speed operations, while others worried it could concentrate favoritism if unchecked.
The group noted inconsistencies between the rules and a spreadsheet of mayoral committee nominations and said some committee descriptions (for example, the strategic planning committee has language saying 'up to 4' while prior practice used five members). The committee agreed to ask counsel to clarify whether appointment steps require majority council approval and to propose clarifying text.
No appointments were finalized; the committee agreed to reconvene after legal clarification.
