[Amended 10-10-2016 by Ord. No. O-17-07; 6-8-2020 by Ord. No. O-20-19; 12-9-2024 by Ord. No. O-25-08]
A.
The role of City Council committees.
(1)
City Council committees are intended to enhance communication between the City Council and City staff at the early phase of the development of significant items affecting public policy questions.
(2)
These committees will enable City staff to obtain early feedback from representative members of the City Council on issues affecting public policy prior to their presentation, as necessary, to the full City Council.
(3)
City Council committee members develop and maintain a deeper level of knowledge on matters of a technical nature which might affect public policy in order to increase the positive exchange of information and discussions between City Council members, City staff, and the public.
(4)
When appropriate, items may be considered by the City Council committee before a final recommendation from the City staff.
(5)
City Council committees do not replace the City Council as the final decisionmakers on behalf of the full City Council, council committees make no staff direction on administrative matters, specific assignments, or work tasks. If committee members seek additional information from an outside party or consultant resulting in additional costs to the City, approval to incur such costs must be approved by the full City Council.
B.
Operational guidelines and functional structure.
(1)
City Council committees consist of three Council members and one serving as the chair of the committee which shall be appointed by the Council President in accordance with City Code Chapter 14, Departments and Committees. Members are appointed in October of each year.
(2)
No member of the City Council may serve on more than three committees.
(3)
Council committees will schedule meetings as needed. The meeting schedule should allow at least 10 days prior to the subsequent Council meeting.
(4)
All City Council committee meeting notices will be posted, and meetings will be conducted in accordance with the Maryland Open Meetings Act outlined in Title 3 of the General Provisions Article of the Maryland Annotated Code, §§ 3-101 through 3-501. All agendas should include language identical or similar to: "Any discussion, feedback or recommendation by committee member(s) should not be construed or understood to be an action or decision by or for the Seat Pleasant City Council. Further, any recommendation(s) the committee may make to the City Council is based on information possessed by the committee at that point in time."
(5)
The Council committee chair will forward to the City Clerk those items to be placed on the meeting agenda a minimum of one week in advance of the scheduled monthly meeting.
(6)
The City Manager will coordinate with staff members the preparation of the agenda to determine whether items will be presented to a committee or placed on the Council's regular agenda to be considered by the full City Council. Any item may be referred to the full Council by the committee considering that item.
(7)
The full City Council by majority vote may refer any item on its agenda to an appropriate committee.
(8)
Regularly scheduled committee meetings are intended to allow regular attendance by City Council committee members, as well as department managers, staff, and the City Manager, as necessary. To prevent inadvertent violations of the Maryland Open Meetings Act, attendance by nonmember Council members that will result in a quorum of the full City Council is discouraged.
(9)
The regular Council meeting agenda shall include an opportunity for committee reports, at which time any appointed committee member may report to the Mayor and City Council on pertinent and timely issues before a committee.
C.
City department manager role. The City Manager and City Clerk or designee shall serve as an advisor to each City Council committee; however, each committee has an identified staff lead at the management/director level. The responsibilities of the City Manager/City Clerk are as follows:
(1)
Attending all meetings of the City Council committee.
(2)
Research information and prepare reports and correspondence as required for the committee.
(3)
Provide administrative support to the committee, including distribution of documents to the committee as required.
(4)
The City Clerk or designee shall coordinate with the committee chair to prepare agendas.
(5)
The scheduled meetings shall have appropriate public notification by the City Clerk or designee.
(6)
The City Clerk shall prepare committee minutes within one week of the meeting and submit them to the committee chair for approval and distribution to the full City Council during the regular work session.
(7)
The City Clerk shall coordinate the posting of all committee-related items, including agendas and minutes, on the City website.
(8)
The City Clerk or designee shall serve as the communication link between the committee and City Administration, City departments, and Council as appropriate.
D.
Council committee description. The committees of the City are as follows:
(1)
Economic, Planning, Development & Housing Committee. The Committee shall work in conjunction with the City Manager and Grants Manager with regards to all programs, funds, grants, and initiatives dealing with development in the City, revitalization, implementation of Smart Growth plans, affordable housing, business, annexation plans for future growth.
(2)
Human Services, Health and Education Committee. The Committee shall work in conjunction with the City Manager, Neighborhood Code and Compliance, and Public Engagement as it pertains to legislative matters affecting public health, enforcement of the City Code, and monitor issues pertaining to public schools that service Seat Pleasant residents.
(3)
Environmental Justice & Transportation Committee. The Committee shall work in conjunction with the City Manager and the Director of the Environmental Justice Department with jurisdiction over all public works projects, sewer, streets, trash and recycle collection, parks, disposition of surplus property, fleet management, facility maintenance of all City-owned properties, inventory of City property, snow removal, and leaf collection.
(4)
Public Safety Committee. The Committee shall work in conjunction with the City Manager and Chief of Police with regard to legislation and matters pertaining to or affecting public safety.
(5)
Finance & Budget Committee. The Committee shall review and consider all legislative proposals amending, modifying, or affecting the budgetary process for the City budget; review and consider all actions, legislation, and proposals affecting the budget and spending cap; review how the Chief Financial Officer is investing the City's monies to maximize investment returns; and consider whether or not the City is effectively managed financially.
(6)
Governmental Affairs & Technology Committee. The Committee shall work in conjunction with the City Manager and Human Resources Manager on matters pertaining to policy involving City employees and oversight of information technology, and any and all matters that are recommended to the Committee pertaining to legislation or Code amendments, and the review of administrative policy recommendations or changes.
E.
Each committee shall be composed of at least three Councilpersons appointed by the Council President. One of the committee members shall act as Chair, who shall be appointed by the Council President. Each member shall serve for a term of one year.