Charter Review Commission advances council structure and governance changes

The Volusia County Charter Review Commission on Thursday advanced multiple governance‑focused charter amendments recommended by a Parker‑led subcommittee, including retaining seven council members, returning the county council chair to election by fellow commissioners, and shifting selected personnel and compensation provisions from the charter to county ordinance.

Subcommittee chair Mister Parker told the commission the group met three times, reviewed charter language and recommended that some items currently in the charter—particularly detailed personnel administration provisions—be removed and handled by ordinance. "Our subcommittee has met 3 times, and I really appreciate the input from each of our committee members," Parker said, summarizing his panel’s work and the recommendations before the full commission.

On the chair and council structure, the commission voted to restore the practice of electing the chair from among council members; the item passed after discussion, with two commissioners recorded as opposed to at least one measure. The commission also approved removal of the specified personnel provisions from the charter, with the intention that the council adopt any necessary implementing ordinance.

Regarding council compensation, the subcommittee proposed removing the phrase that framed certain items as a commissioner’s "total compensation" so that reimbursements and other categories can be clarified in ordinance. Commissioners debated the practical effects of shifting those provisions and whether doing so would permit future councils flexibility; the motion passed with two recorded opposing votes on parts of the compensation changes.

Parker said the subcommittee’s recommendations aim to keep the charter focused on structural governance items while leaving operational personnel and compensation details to ordinances that the county council can update as needed. The commission agreed to include these approved language changes in its transmittal packet to county council and to direct the drafting subcommittee to prepare supporting findings and suggested ordinance language where appropriate.

The commission also formed a drafting subcommittee to prepare the transmittal report, ballot messaging and supporting materials for county council. Commissioners noted timeline constraints for submitting ballot language and the possibility that pending state legislation could affect the commission’s window to propose additional language to the ballot.