There is at least some interest among Batavia City Council members in setting up a committee structure similar to what the County Legislature uses.
When voters approved a revised City Charter in November, they granted the council the ability to reorganize the way it does business by going to a committee system.
City Council President Marianne Clattenburg said that the first priority for the new year was getting a budget passed, and with that vote scheduled for Monday, the council can turn its attention to strategic planning, which includes reviewing committee structure and options and deciding what would be best for the city.
"This is something for council to decide -- whether we want to have standing committees or set up temporary ad hoc committees -- as part of our strategic planning process," Clattenburg said. "I haven't really looked at it that closely yet. I’m going to let the council debate that as a group and go with the majority opinion."
At the County Legislature, the legislature has divided itself into three standing committees -- Public Safety, Human Services and Ways and Means. Resolutions are drafted by staff, brought to the committee and reviewed by the elected officials on the committee. Resolutions that involve an expenditure often go through two committees, with one of them being Ways and Means. By the time a resolution reaches the entire legislature, all members have reviewed it in one or more committees. When the legislature meets as a body, the resolutions are usually passed with very little discussion.
That is not a process that received universal support from council members.
Fifth Ward Councilwoman Kathy Briggs said she supports the idea of standing committees, but doesn't believe that issues shouldn't also be discussed when the full council meets.
"I would like to have a committee do research, come up with recommendations and go from there and we have a healthy discussion (at council level)," Briggs said. "I would never want to have a situation where it’s 'here’s the recommendation and here you go.' I don’t think that would go over well."
But operating more like the County Legislature is exactly what the council should do, according to Fourth Ward Councilman Bob Bialkowski.
"I honestly feel we can streamline the way we’re doing our business," Bialkowski said.
At-Large Councilman Frank Ferrando said he's interested in the committee system and believes a majority of his colleagues are intrigued by the idea, but he wants to know more about how Batavia might move forward with a reorganization.
"I think committees, in my personal opinion, are committees working on specific assignments, whether ad hoc or permanently, and they can work more efficiently and effectively to help the council in a way that will make the council better and better able to react to situations," Ferrando said.
In the Third Ward, Councilman Sam Barone isn't sure about committees. He said he hasn't decided one way or the other whether he will support a committee system.
Councilwoman Rose Mary Christian, representing the Sixth Ward, said she needs to know more about how a committee system would work before deciding whether to support it.
Council members Bill Cox, Tim Buckley and Patti Pacino could not be reached for comment.
