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Council considers short-term committees or topical workshops to improve policy development
Summary
Council debated a temporary three-committee structure (finance; economic development & infrastructure; public safety & community enrichment) with a sunset clause, discussed charter limits on standing committees, and directed staff to draft a resolution or meeting‑rule change to pilot topical workshops following the discussion.
Council discussed a proposed resolution to create three time‑limited special committees to provide venues for deeper policy work: Finance & Organization; Economic Development & Infrastructure; and Public Safety & Community Enrichment. The resolution included a sunset mechanism terminating committee work on June 30, 2026, and a policy document describing boards/commissions that could report to each committee.
Several councilors raised concerns about the city charter’s restrictions on permanent or standing committees. City attorney and staff said the proposed committees would be time‑bound special committees rather than permanent delegations of council power, and staff emphasized the draft resolution’s sunset provision as an attempt to respect charter language. Councilors discussed alternatives—regularly scheduled topical work sessions, repurposing Committee of the Whole meetings as workshops, or a rotating workshop schedule—to allow broader participation and more transparent policy development.
Staff and the city attorney recommended preparing a short resolution or work‑session schedule to pilot the approach and, separately, updating council meeting rules if the pilot demonstrates value. Members asked staff to prepare materials for the next committee of the whole and to target implementation after the February Committee of the Whole (March timeframe suggested). The meeting concluded with a motion and second to enter executive session under West Virginia Code to discuss personnel and property acquisition matters.
