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Panel renames Law Department, tables deputy appointment provision in Chapter 8
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Summary
The charter commission voted to accept changes renaming the Law Department to the Office of the City Attorney but tabled a provision about deputy appointment and classification; the chapter was approved except for the tabled subsection.
The Charter Revision Commission approved edits to Chapter 8 that rename the Law Department to the Office of the City Attorney but tabled a contested subsection that would change who appoints the deputy city attorney and how that deputy is classified.
During the review, commissioners debated whether a deputy city attorney who comes from inside the office should be allowed to remain in a union (classified civil service) while a deputy hired from outside would be unclassified. Commissioners expressed concern that carving out an exception for one position based on current personnel could set a precedent; others noted the charter already draws lines between department heads in the unclassified service and other staff in the classified service.
A motion to table subsection b — the paragraph addressing deputy appointment and classification — was made and seconded and carried by voice vote. The commission then voted to accept Chapter 8 except for the items that had been tabled.
The clerk recorded the motions; commissioners said remaining substantive changes in the chapter were limited to clarifying language, capitalization and cross‑references to other chapters (for example, the civil‑service chapter). The tabling decision means the commission will revisit the deputy appointment and classification issue in a future session after further review and legal counsel.
