WESTFIELD – The City Council is expected to receive a draft of the amendment for the rules by which the city’s legislative body conducts its business.
The Legislative & Ordinance Committee and Ad Hoc Committee on Charter and Rules are slated to meet tonight to discuss the draft document with former Law Department supervisor Peter Martin who was hired as the council’s counsel on the City Charter update and the council rules amendment.
The City Charter establishes the organization of city government and defines authority of the executive and legislative branches as well as boards and commission. The charter was approved by the state Legislature in 1920 and established a city form of government in Westfield.
The City Council rules are established by ordinance and will require at least two meetings to adopt any amendment to that ordinance.
Ward 4 Councilor Mary O’Connell, chairwoman of the Ad Hoc Committee on Charter and Rules, said she anticipates the two committees will bring the draft rules change out to the full council Thursday night.
The draft document was circulated to council members before the Jan. 5 session and was briefly discussed at the council meeting. A number of councilors suggested changes to the draft document.
O’Connell said that she and James E. Brown Jr., chairman of the L&O, have requested council members to submit proposed changes to the draft document directly to Martin.
“I hope that people are communicating with Peter,” O’Connell said this morning. “I know that Councilor (David A.) Flaherty had 30 suggestions and Councilor (Christopher) Crean had several.”
“I definitely know it will come out Thursday, but I don’t know if it will make it through the first reading or get bogged down if members have a lot of issues,” she said.
One of the issues discussed at the Jan. 5 council meeting was the change that gives the council presidents that authority to establish advisory committees. Several members argued that the president currently has the authority to establish ad hoc committees, such as the Charter and Rules Committee.
O’Connell said the function of two bodies is different. The Advisory committee can be comprised of council members, city staff and members of the general public while ad hoc committees are comprised only of council members.
“The advisory committee has less authority. Its purpose is to gather information, while the Ad Hoc committees have more substance,” she said.
Brown said this morning that rules amendment is already on the council agenda for Thursday under the reports of committees.
“I expect that the Ad Hoc Committee on Charter and Rules will make a positive recommendation and refer it to the L&O which will bring it out onto the floor for discussion,” Brown said.
“What I’m going to suggest is that if people want to offer up amendments they do it between the first and second readings,” he said. “If there are a sufficient number of amendments, the L&O will meet on Jan. 30, so any member with an amendment or motion can come and discuss it in committee. That way we’ll have a few more days to work on it before the Feb. 2 council meeting.”
