Butte-Silver Bow Local Government Study Commission Meeting – October 6, 2025

The commission convened to review fire district mapping progress, hear legal guidance on ballot proposal limits, discuss public survey results and next steps, and identify additional research needed on key topics such as number of commissioners, forensic auditing, and fire service structures. The meeting included public comments, approval of prior minutes, and a motion to close the public survey by October 31, 2025.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Mr. Badrab (2601 Grand Avenue) questioned the purpose of the commission's op-eds and suggested issuing news releases after each meeting to better inform the public.
• John Reardon (1107 Iowa Avenue) expressed strong support for the study commission's work, advocated for the proposed replacement government system, and stressed the need for increased public transparency and participation.
• Mr. Badrab (second comment) raised a point of procedure regarding public comment rules, citing Montana law and Butte-Silver Bow precedent. He requested that the commission place a discussion of public comment procedures on the next agenda to clarify when the public may participate in discussions on agenda items.

Discussion Items

• Fire District Mapping Update: GIS is reviewing prior fire district mapping data from the retired Dan, meeting weekly with Lee Sullivan (firefighter/paramedic). There are 92 council descriptions to verify, and mapping data may be incomplete or inaccurate. Commissioner Chad Silk suggested involving a volunteer firefighter in the Thursday GIS meetings to help ensure accuracy.
• County Attorney Matt Enruth – Ballot Proposal Limits: Mr. Enruth presented a memorandum explaining that, under current Montana law (MCA 7-3-151, 7-3-192), the commission may submit only three ballot questions to voters, each with no more than two sub-options (alternatives). He noted that the 2006 study commission placed seven issues on the ballot, but the law may have changed. A complete new charter could be drafted, but the procedural requirements for presenting it to voters remain unclear. Commissioner Cindy Purdue Dolan and others emphasized the need for legal clarity on whether seven questions were permissible in 2006 and why the limit now appears to be three.
• Public Survey & Outreach: Dr. Shana Adams reported that about 338 survey responses have been collected (goal: 375 for statistical significance). The commission voted (7-1, with Dolan opposed) to close the survey on October 31, 2025, with two weeks for review, then begin drafting a preliminary report due by end of November. Additional surveys were discussed to gauge public opinion on specific topics after receiving legal guidance.
• Op-Ed Strategy: Commissioner Matt Stappen proposed focusing the next op-ed on encouraging public participation and explaining the survey, rather than identifying top issues, pending clarity on ballot limits. The commission agreed.
• Community Councils, Forensic Audit, and Other Research Needs: Discussion on community councils was deferred until legal guidance is received. Commissioners raised the need for presentations or data on: a forensic audit (vs. current independent audit), the Anaconda fire department model, the sheriff-coroner position, number of commissioners based on population (Dan Clark from MSU), MĀKO research on commissioner salaries, and the city manager system (Tim Burton, Andy Hunthausen). The chair directed staff to reach out to these contacts and schedule presentations, with Commissioner Dan Denehee volunteering to contact Tim Burton.
• Commissioner Chad Silk’s Potential Conflict: Commissioner Silk asked to discuss concerns raised in public letters about his dual role as a career firefighter and study commission member. Commissioner Ben Thielen and Matt Stappen expressed confidence in his impartiality. The item was deferred to the next meeting’s agenda.

Key Outcomes

• Motion passed: Close the public survey on October 31, 2025, with results to be reviewed over two weeks before drafting the preliminary report (vote: 7-1, with Dolan opposed).
• Direction to staff: Contact speakers and gather data on forensic auditing, Anaconda fire/sheriff-coroner models, commissioner structures in other counties, and city manager examples. Schedule these presentations for upcoming meetings.
• Deferral: Discussion of community councils and detailed charter amendment options held until the County Attorney provides a definitive opinion on the number of permissible ballot questions and the feasibility of drafting a new charter.
• Next meeting: Scheduled for October 20, 2025; the commission will consider adjusting the meeting frequency (weekly vs. biweekly) to meet the November preliminary report deadline.
• Public Input: The commission acknowledged the need to clarify public comment procedures and will consider placing that item on a future agenda.