Charleston committee tables resolution to shift committee chair appointments to council

The Ordinance and Rules Committee reviewed Resolution 20620, which would amend the council’s rules to change who appoints standing committee members and to let committees select their own chairs and vice chairs on a two‑year cycle.

Sponsor Councilman Solomon told the committee the measure is intended to “have a more independent legislative branch within [the] city council,” arguing that committees should be empowered to elect leadership from among their members.

The city attorney, Mr. Baldwin, warned the change “does . . . signify a shift away from what we consider the strong form of government,” and said it would create new duties for a council president pro tempore that are not currently contemplated in the code. Baldwin told the committee that, absent further detail in the resolution, vacancy‑filling and removal processes would default to existing appointment procedures by the presiding officer.

Committee members pressed for clarification on several operational points: who would hold new powers, whether the council president pro tem should be redefined before the authority is shifted, how a committee could remove a chair it elected, and whether the resolution would require immediate reassignment of committee seats if it took effect on passage. Members suggested amending the effective date language so new appointments would occur at a later, specified time such as the next inaugural session.

After discussion, the chair asked if anyone would move the resolution to the floor for further consideration. There was no motion and no second, so the committee tabled Resolution 20620 and it will not advance from this meeting.

The committee did not take a formal vote on the substance of the resolution; the action recorded was that it failed to be moved out of committee.