Benton Harbor City Commissioners this week shot down a couple of proposals that would have changed up some of their own procedures. At Monday’s meeting, the commission considered changing a rule which states the mayor gets to make all committee appointments, which are then voted on by the full commission. Under the proposed resolution, committee appointments would instead be made by the legislative committee. Mayor Pro Tem Duane Seats wasn’t having it.
“A committee will have more power than the mayor,” Seats said.
Seats called the proposal “childish,” and “a waste of time.” He also said it would usurp the authority of the mayor. The only commissioner to vote in favor of the idea was Commissioner Juanita Henry, who said it could open up committee seats to more citizens. Commissioners also rejected a proposal to grant committee vice chairs the same powers as the chair, creating committee co-chair positions.
