By LISA SIMPSON STRANGE
GLASGOW — The different committees of the Glasgow City Council may soon be restructured.
Council member Tim Stutler brought a proposal before the group Monday night at city hall that would reorganize and streamline the council’s many committees.
Stutler said he and council members Linda Wells and Jim Marion had reviewed the structure and operations of current committees and have recommendations for improving them “to better meet the needs of the citizens of Glasgow and to operate in a more efficient manner.”
If the council adopts the changes, there will be fewer committees, but each committee will have greater responsibilities, Stutler said.
The following recommendations have been made for new committees. They should meet monthly at a regular time and in a consistent location. A secretary should be appointed to record the minutes of each meeting. Committees should hear regular reports from department heads and programs under their oversight and should give regular reports to the full council.
Four primary committees are recommended in the new plan.
The public safety committee should consist of four council members and oversee the police and fire departments and the mayor could appoint one member each to the boards of Barren River Animal Welfare Association, ambulance board, 911 board and the newly formed Glasgow Community Development Committee.
The finance/adminstration committee would also have four members and oversee the annual budget, continued communication with the administrative department, act as budget liaison between department heads and the council and oversee the revolving loan fund. Members of this committed could be appointed to the airport board, Industrial Development & Economic Authority board and community development committee.
The infrastructure committee would have five members and oversee the street department, public transportation, sanitation and landfill, recycling, street lighting, annexation and storm water. The committee should also be represented at planning and zoning hearings and should participate in development of the city’s comprehensive plan. The mayor could appoint one member each to the Electric Plant Board, Water and Sewer Commission and community development committee.
The Glasgow Community Development Committee would be new and consist of five city council members and have oversight of the recreation department, technology and office of grant oversight. The primary function of this new committee would be to proactively plan and develop job creation with a focus on quality of life issues for Glasgow. The mayor could appoint one member each to the IDEA board, Renaissance, Plaza Theatre, South Central Kentucky Cultural Center and Community Relief. This board would also receive updates from the Fort Williams and tourism committees. Members would also assist in the development of the city’s comprehensive plan.
Stutler told the council the restructuring would lend itself to a more efficient organization.
“I think most of you share the same frustration at times where we feel our hands are kind of tied and we’re always reacting and we don’t get the opportunity to plan and think together and be proactive,” he said.
Mayor Darrell Pickett added his support for the reorganization plan.
