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Committee approves ordinance to extend committee‑chair term to full elected term
Summary
The committee advanced an ordinance amending city code so committee chairs would serve the full two‑year elected term rather than be re‑voted after one year; members amended language on vacancy procedures and gendered terms before approval.
The License & Permit Committee approved an ordinance changing how committee chairs are selected and how long they serve, advancing an amendment that would make a chair’s term coincide with the elected two‑year aldermanic term rather than require a reappointment after one year.
Sponsor David Bogdala presented the change, telling the committee the current practice—an organizational meeting vote after a year—had long been debated and that a chair should serve through the alderman’s two‑year term unless a vacancy occurs. Members discussed the ordinance’s language, including replacing the word "chairman" with gender‑neutral terms and clarifying vacancy procedures. Bogdala accepted the recommended changes.
One member asked how the committee could replace a problematic chair midterm; council and city attorney staff explained vacancies would trigger a selection process provided in the ordinance and statutory rules. After amendments, the committee voted to approve the ordinance as amended; the recommendation will go to council for final adoption.
Procedure note: committee members requested the city attorney provide the finalized text with the vacancy and gender‑neutral wording before the ordinance proceeds to council.
