SUBJECT:
Title
An Ordinance of the Town Council of the Town of Erie Repealing and Reenacting Title 3 of the Erie Municipal Code Regarding Boards, Commissions, and Committees and Making Corresponding Amendments to the Erie Municipal Code, Including Moving Historic Landmark Regulations to Title 9
Department
DEPARTMENT: Administrative Operations
Presenter
PRESENTER(S): Meredyth Muth, Director of Administrative Services and Operations
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Time
TIME ESTIMATE: 15 minutes
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For time estimate: please put 0 for Consent items.
Fiscal
FISCAL SUMMARY:
N/A
Policy
POLICY ISSUES:
The current Municipal Code related to Board and Commissions does not align with the requirements in the Home Rule Charter. Council also directed staff to change board and commission appointments from odd-numbered years to even-numbered years. That change requires a change to the Municipal Code.
Recommendation
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Review and approve the ordinance as written or approve with amendments.
Body
SUMMARY/KEY POINTS
• This ordinance updates the Municipal Code to clarify how the Town Council may remove a board or commission member per the Home Rule Charter. Removal may only be for cause; may only be done after notice and an opportunity to be heard; and may only be done by a two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote of the Council then in office. The current code states a simple Council majority vote may remove a member.
• The ordinance moves board and commission appointments to odd-numbered years, so they take place after new Council Members have taken their seats. It shortens existing board positions ending in 2028 to end in 2027 to align with this timing.
• The ordinance updates the code to put information and regulations that pertain to all the boards in one section while keeping the roles and duties for specific boards in separate sections.
• The ordinance moves the Historic Landmarking regulations from Title 3, Boards and Commissions, where it was initially placed with the Historic Preservation Advisory Board’s duties, to Title 9, Building Regulations, to keep that information with all of the other building regulation information.
BACKGROUND OF SUBJECT MATTER:
The Home Rule Charter gives the Town Council the right to establish, amend, and abolish the Town’s boards and commissions by ordinance. The Charter also states the Council may “increase, reduce, or change by ordinance any or all of the duties and procedures of any board or commission.”
Title 3 of the Municipal Code contains all of the regulations pertaining to all six of the Town’s boards/commissions. It also sets out the roles and duties for the members of each board/commission. This ordinance repeals and reenacts Title 3 of the Municipal Code in its entirety with the changes noted above.
priorities
TOWN COUNCIL PRIORITY(S) ADDRESSED:
☐ Attractive Community Amenities
☒ Engaged and Diverse Community
☐ Prosperous Economy
☐ Well-Maintained Transportation Infrastructure
☐ Small Town Feel
☐ Safe and Healthy Community
☒ Effective Governance
☐ Environmentally Sustainable
☐ Fiscally Responsible
attachments
ATTACHMENT(S):
1. Proposed Ordinance No. 30-2025