Corporation Counsel: statute governs conference process; additional public hearing not required by statute

Corporation Counsel told the City Council that the process for conferring with the Charter Revision Commission is governed by state statute and that the council, as the appointing authority, sends recommendations to the commission. Counsel said the commission prepares a final report and returns it to the council for review before the council prepares ballot questions. Counsel stated that the statute "does not call for another public hearing" and cited notice provisions in "section 1 2 25 of the general statute," adding that notices must comply with statutory requirements.

Counsel's explanation prompted follow-up questions from council members about who would chair a joint conference and how notices would be posted. Counsel recommended the council president open and conduct the joint conference in the absence of explicit statutory language on who presides at a conferring meeting between the appointing authority and the commission.