The Rules Subcommittee discussed the following (see report and watch the meeting video):
- Possible adjustments to the Council’s budget review process. Committee members supported giving councilors the ability to request specific budget topics in advance of hearings. They also discussed time limits, streamlined approvals, and a two-stage (first/second call) approach to distinguish routine from controversial items.
- Committee meeting schedule. Members discussed—but did not adopt—changes to regular meeting days.
- School Committee and City Council Joint Meetings. The Rules Subcommittee supported holding occasional joint meetings with the School Committee to check in and share information for a more harmonious budgeting process, but not formalizing them in the Council Rules. The two groups are distinct branches of government under state law.
- Committee workload and department assignments. No further reassignment was recommended beyond the recent transfer of auto licensing matters to Public Safety & Transportation. The Chair plans to bring a final report to Programs & Services in September and the full Council in October.
- Procedures for timely addressing docketed items. Members discussed introducing time limits (e.g., 60 or 90 days) for initial hearings and 120-day deadlines for voting items out of committee. A proposed mechanism would allow the full Council to compel action if these limits are not met. Members raised questions about Open Meeting Law compliance and differences between public- and council-initiated items.
Attendees: Councilors Oliver (Chair), Humphrey, Baker, and Krintzman. Also present: Councilor Malakie. City Staff: Katie Holden, Committee Clerk
