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Committee sends fire-department jurisdiction ordinance to final reading; commissioner warns of possible litigation
Summary
The judiciary committee moved council bill 2026-02 (amending fire department jurisdiction) to final reading after a public hearing; Commissioner Callahan said ASME has indicated it may seek litigation to block the ordinance.
The Butte-Silver Bow judiciary committee voted on July 8 to send council bill 2026-02, an ordinance amending Chapter 2.16 concerning the fire department's jurisdictional area, to final reading after a prior public hearing on June 24.
Chairwoman Shea said the committee had held a public hearing and was prepared to consider final action. Commissioner Thatcher moved to advance the ordinance to final reading, and the motion passed on a voice vote.
During discussion Commissioner Callahan reported contact from an outside group, saying, "Mister Kelly from ASME contacted me yesterday, and he says that this does move forward that they would most likely be looking at litigation to stop." Chairwoman Shea and other members acknowledged the possibility, saying the risk had been discussed previously.
Why it matters: The ordinance changes the fire department's designated jurisdictional area under the Butte-Silver Bow Municipal Code (Chapter 2.16), which can affect response boundaries and interagency responsibilities. Commissioner Callahan's statement that ASME may pursue litigation signals an external legal challenge could follow the council's final action.
Next steps: The committee moved the bill to final reading; the council will consider final adoption at the next scheduled ordinance-reading opportunity. The committee did not record a roll-call vote on the motion in the transcript; action passed by voice vote.
