Council Processes Committee Meeting - September 29, 2026

Note: The transcript identifies the meeting as Monday, September 28, 2026, but the provided timestamp is September 29, 2026. This summary uses the provided date.

The Committee on Council Processes met on September 29, 2026, chaired by Council Member Isabel Piedmont Smith (District 1). Also present were Council Members Hopi East (District 3), Courtney Daly (District 5), and So heis Overing (District 6), along with Deputy Clerk Jennifer Crossley and City Attorney Larry Allen. The agenda included discussion of the possible expansion of the Bloomington Public Transportation Board, developing a removal process for board and commission members, improved training on Robert's Rules of Order, and ongoing review of Title II of the city code.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Terry Amsler, a Bloomington resident, spoke in person. He mentioned an upcoming Indiana Municipalities summit on consensus-building, Robert's Rules resources (including alternatives), a potential IU capstone project on boards and commissions, and the Monroe County Health Equity Coalition's name change. He expressed general support for the committee's work.
• Eric Ghost, participating online, argued that categorizing removal of appointed board members as "for cause" creates a constitutionally protected property interest. He stressed that removal must include procedural due process, detailed written notice, full disclosure of evidence, and a meaningful hearing before the full council. He also called for codifying how points of order are raised and addressed, and noted that resignations from the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) resulted from process failures at the June 25, 2026 meeting.

Discussion Items

• Expansion of the Bloomington Public Transportation Board: Council Member East reported that the item is still in the research phase; he is scheduled to attend a board meeting in October to gather more information. No conclusions or proposals were presented.
• Developing a Process for Removal of Board and Commission Members: City Attorney Larry Allen summarized the case of Mr. Cross, an HPC advisory member, whose behavior at two meetings (July 9 and July 23, 2026) led to recommendations for removal. Issues included delaying meetings, rudeness to the chair, and potential open door law violations. The committee discussed whether to route complaints through council leadership or the relevant interview committee, and whether to require the interview committee to meet first. After extensive debate, the committee directed staff (Larry Allen and Jennifer Crossley) to draft a formal removal process proposal for review at the next meeting. Key points included ensuring due process (notice, opportunity to respond), cutting unnecessary steps, and balancing transparency with efficiency.
• Improved Training on Robert's Rules of Order for Boards and Commissions: Deputy Clerk Crossley shared materials from a June training session. The committee agreed that detailed Robert's Rules training is not within its purview, but suggested providing cheat sheets or optional resources. The clerk's office indicated it would work with legal to develop or adapt training materials for chairs and members.
• Title II Review: The committee reviewed several sections of Title II:
  • Intentional Display of Firearms (2.04.225): Members questioned the legality and placement of the provision under "Committees" rather than "Meetings and Rules of Procedure." It was agreed to move it to the meetings section for broader applicability.
  • Reports from Standing Committees: The current code requires written reports signed by a majority. The committee proposed at least one written report per year, with oral reports as needed, and to remove outdated references to document return.
  • Special Committees: The committee adopted edits to language drafted by Chair Piedmont Smith, adding that a special committee shall give a final report to council and may disband after completing its duties. The provision for continuation by the new council president was retained.

Key Outcomes

• Staff (City Attorney Larry Allen and Deputy Clerk Jennifer Crossley) were directed to draft a formal process for the removal of board and commission members, addressing complaint intake, investigation, notice, hearing, and council decision. The draft will be presented at the next meeting.
• The Title II review continued with specific edits: the intentional display of firearms provision to be relocated; standing committee reports to require at least one written annual report; and special committee language updated to include a final report and potential early disbandment.
• The next committee meeting was scheduled for October 26, 2026.

Note on date discrepancy: The agenda and minutes were unavailable; the transcript indicates the meeting was held on Monday, September 28, 2026, while the provided timestamp is September 29, 2026. This summary reflects the latter date as instructed.