The council plans to complete its review and adopted rules charges in December.
WESTFIELD – The City Council's ad-hoc committee on rules and City Charter will focus its attention on review of the charter in October while it completes work on recommended changes or amendments to the council's rules or order.
Ward 4 Councilor Mary L. O'Connell, who serves as chairperson, said this week the committee's intention is to bring recommended rules changes to the full City Council for consideration, along with suggestions on updating the City Charter, in early November.
The goal, said O'Connell is to have any rules changes adopted in time for distribution to council members before January's inauguration of city officials.
The committee will also seek full council support to either proceed with creation of a formal Charter Review Commission or a home-rule legislation approach to upgrading the charter completed before the end of December. A Charter Review Commission will require an election of its members.
O'Connell said her committee, along with Legislative and Ordinance Committee members, will begin a review of charter upgrades on Oct. 12. Both committees have been working together on the review and all council members have been solicited for input.
Ward 2 Councilor James E. Brown Jr., legislative and ordinance chariman, has said changes to Council Rules must be complete and adopted before January's swearing in of elected officials.
Assisting both committees in the review is former city solicitor Peter H. Martin.
The City Charter dates back to 1920 and contains issues that are no longer in existence, and several areas do not comply with state and federal laws.