Study Commission approves preliminary charter report, narrows fire-advisory language

The Butte–Silver Bow Government Study Commission voted unanimously March 30 to approve its Preliminary Report and instructed staff to finalize edits and submit the document for County Attorney review. The vote followed a detailed, hour-long work session on proposed charter changes.

Chairperson Brandl led the review, noting the cover letter would remain unchanged and that the draft still lacked finalized language for fire services (Section 7.03). Commissioners focused discussion on whether the Fire Advisory Committee’s structure should be set in the charter or left to ordinance or memorandum of understanding.

Commissioner Casey raised concern that Option 1 still would reference appointment of volunteer members to the Fire Advisory Committee. Commissioner Dennehy warned that listing three commissioners on the advisory board could create a Commission majority. The body agreed to remove Section D from Option 1 and to revise Option 2 so the charter states there will be a fire advisory committee while delegating details — including composition — to ordinance.

On technical edits, Commissioners Stepan and Silk confirmed that volunteer firefighters are already covered by workers’ compensation and agreed to delete a workers’ compensation bullet that would have created no substantive change. Commissioner Silk also recommended revising wording to refer to “operations, training, and equipment standards” and removing an outdated cross-reference that is governed by ordinance.

Commissioners also debated whether removal procedures for the City-County manager should be in the charter or left to an employment contract. Commissioner Shaw recommended adding contract-based language about compensation and removal; several sections related to manager removal and transition timing were flagged for legal review by the County Attorney.

The Commission discussed transition timing and commissioner structure, including options for shortened transitional terms and a phased reduction in commissioner count. Commissioner Stepan emphasized potential complications with district boundary transitions; Commissioners agreed to await County Attorney guidance before finalizing timelines.

On governance structure language, Commissioner Stepan recommended removing or clarifying references to an at-large mayor in parts of the report where the mayor’s existence would depend on adopting the city–manager form of government.

At the end of the session, Commissioner Thielen moved to approve the Preliminary Report; Commissioner Shaw seconded. A roll-call vote recorded Aye from Commissioners Casey, Thielen, Stepan, Brandl, Dennehy, Silk and Shaw. The motion carried unanimously. Chairperson Brandl thanked members for their work and directed staff to submit the revised language to the County Attorney for review and further action.

The Commission scheduled its next meeting for April 27 at 5:00 p.m., noted an upcoming public hearing on May 4 at 5:30 p.m., and adjourned at 6:45 p.m.