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Council sends review of boards, commissions and committees to operations committee
Summary
Council voted to send an initiative to evaluate more than two dozen boards and committees to the council operations committee. The review will prioritize boards required by law or ordinance and examine staff time, membership criteria and conflicts of interest.
The Billings City Council voted on March 8 to send a review of the city’s boards, commissions and committees to the council operations committee for evaluation and recommendations.
Council member O’Donnell (Bridal) proposed the initiative, asking the operations committee to inventory roughly 28 bodies and prioritize review based on whether a board is required by state law or city code, whether it should be ad hoc or standing, staff time impacts, conflict-of-interest policies and whether functions might be consolidated. Council members emphasized a flow-chart approach to triaging boards: those mandated by statute or code first, then others by staff impact and public benefit.
Council member Kennedy moved—and the council seconded—to assign the review to the operations committee rather than creating a new committee. The motion passed by voice vote. Staff and the operations committee will return a recommended process and timeline to council for further action.
Council members said the review should be practical and avoid micromanaging the operations committee while giving it clear priorities to assess whether boards should be consolidated, sunsetted or remain in place.
