SOUTH BEND — The South Bend Common Council on Monday voted to tweak a city ordinance so it can pare down a backlog of meeting minutes from the past two years.
City Clerk Bianca Tirado, who assumed office on Jan. 1 after ousting Dawn Jones in last year's election cycle, said dozens of meeting minutes from 2022 and 2023 were left fully or partially unprepared by her predecessor.
More: South Bend council's decision further delays 'egregious' backlog of meeting minutes
South Bend city code has required the clerk's office to perform this duty "without consultation with anyone not a part of said office."
But an amendment to city code that councilors passed Monday allows the city clerk, with the Common Council president's approval, to hire an outside contractor to prepare an initial draft of meeting minutes. The clerk's office still must review the meeting notes for accuracy before the full council approves them.
Under Indiana Open Door Law, the council must record and publish minutes for all meetings of the full Common Council and its committees. Minutes must include a summary of discussions at meetings and a record of how all councilors voted on various issues. Best practice dictates that minutes are finished within 14 days of meetings.
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