Lynn Haven moves toward charter amendment to create city clerk; commissioners target August ballot

The Lynn Haven commission and the Charter Review Committee agreed to move forward with a charter amendment to create a stand‑alone city clerk (proposed as a city clerk/treasurer reporting directly to the commission).

Charter Review Committee chair Corey Langford said the committee has a consensus to include a clerk in the charter but asked for additional meetings to finalize related amendments. City Attorney briefed three timing options: adopt ballot language by Feb. 13 for April Super Tuesday, adopt by March 20 for a May standalone election, or adopt by June 12 to appear on the August primary/general cycle (the August option is less expensive and gives the committee more time). The commission favored the August timing to allow further committee work and broader voter turnout.

Commissioners emphasized the clerk's role in records custody, financial oversight and a clearer separation of administrative duties from the city manager. The commission directed the charter committee to complete recommended language for the clerk and any companion changes and return to the commission; staff will plan outreach and a voter‑education timeline in the weeks before the submission deadline.

Mayor noted the change would establish a third direct commission report in addition to the city manager and city attorney, and commissioners discussed combining the clerk with treasurer functions to create a single administrative/financial peer leader.

Next steps: Charter Review Committee to finalize recommended language; commission to adopt ballot language and set an election date if committee proposals are ready by the deadlines discussed.