Lebanon Council asks city attorney to draft ordinances to merge public-works committees and add outreach/economic development panel

The Lebanon City Council voted to request that the city attorney draft ordinances to consolidate several committees into a single public-works committee and to create a combined community outreach and economic development committee.

Council member (speaker 6) moved that the attorney prepare the ordinance language; the motion was seconded (speaker 4). On roll call, six members voted in favor and one voted no (Belke), so the motion passed. Speaker 3 told the council the change would likely require an ordinance amendment to adjust committee titles and related sections.

Proponents said the consolidation would create a single point of contact for public-works issues and free an existing trustee to chair an outreach or economic-development committee. "I just would like the council to discuss the possibility of just being able to have one committee chair for public works," Matt (speaker 7) said earlier during the discussion. Supporters said the proposed outreach/economic-development panel could work with the chamber, merchants and schools and provide a clearer external contact for events.

Opponents urged caution about process and cost. One member said he had been "told that certain things can't just come up in full council" and preferred going to committee first, citing procedural precedent. City staff told the council preparing the draft ordinances would carry no immediate additional charge. The ordinance-drafting motion passed by roll call; the council directed staff to bring draft ordinances to the ordinance committee for review.

The council’s next procedural step is for the ordinance committee to review the drafts and, if approved there, to return them to the full council for consideration and possible vote.