Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Charter Ballot Review topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Study commission finalizes several charter ballot questions, rejects parks and animal-title changes
Summary
The Butte–Silver Bow Government Study Commission on May 11 approved ballot language for executive and legislative structure changes, neighborhood councils and a reclamation department, but voted down a Parks & Recreation charter question and an Animal Services title change. Commissioners also agreed to submit contentious fire-service options to the Secretary of State for review.
Butte–Silver Bow — The Government Study Commission on May 11 approved language sending several charter-change questions to the ballot while rejecting two others and referring a contentious fire-services structure question to the Secretary of State for review.
The commission unanimously approved proposed ballot language for the executive-structure question that would let voters choose either to retain the current elected chief executive or adopt a city–county manager form of government with an appointed manager and an elected at-large mayor serving as presiding officer of the Council of Commissioners. Commissioner Perdue-Dolan moved the language and Commissioner Shaw seconded; all nine commissioners voted in favor.
The commission also voted to reduce the legislative branch from twelve part-time commissioners to a four-member full-time Council of Commissioners. Commissioner McCormick made the motion to approve the four-member full-time option, and Commissioner Shaw seconded. The motion passed with eight votes in favor and one dissent from Commissioner Thielen.
In other charter items, the commission unanimously amended and approved ballot wording allowing the Council of Commissioners to establish policies for neighborhood councils or retain existing charter language referring to community councils.
Two proposed items failed. A question to formally establish a Parks and Recreation Department in the charter did not move forward after a 6–3 vote. Commissioners McCormick, Shaw and Stepan voted aye; Commissioners Silk, Dennehy, Thielen, Perdue-Dolan, Casey and Brandl voted no. Separately, a proposed change to retitle the Animal Services head from “manager” to “director” failed 5–4; the defeated measure will be noted in the commission’s minority opinion as requested by Commissioner Perdue-Dolan.
The commission voted to include a proposed charter provision creating a Reclamation and Environmental Services Department on the ballot. Proponents cited long-term Superfund cleanup, watershed restoration and redevelopment tied to reclaimed lands as reasons to give voters the option to enshrine the function in the charter. The motion passed with seven votes in favor (Thielen, Stepan, Dennehy, Silk, Shaw, McCormick, Brandl) and two opposed (Casey, Perdue-Dolan).
Votes at a glance: • Executive structure (Section 2): motion carried unanimously (9–0). • Legislative structure (Section 3): approved (8–1); Thielen opposed. • Neighborhood councils (Section 5, amended): approved unanimously (9–0). • Parks and Recreation (Section 6): failed (3–6); McCormick, Shaw, Stepan voted aye. • Reclamation and Environmental Services (Section 7): approved (7–2); Casey and Perdue-Dolan opposed. • Animal Services title change (Section 8): failed (4–5).
Commissioners and staff flagged timing constraints: ballot language must be finalized in time to meet a July 7 reporting deadline. County Attorney Enrooth said his office will continue refining language and consult further on whether any items must be split across ballot cycles if the Secretary of State objects.
The commission recessed after completing the ballot review and set its next meeting for May 18, 2026.
