Council kicks around idea of killing two committees

A proposal that would disband two standing committees has been tabled by the Metro Council for one month. The council voted on Wednesday to defer until Oct. 12 a resolution that would abolish the Capital Improvements and Finance and Executive committees. District 7 Councilwoman Denise Marcelle introduced the measure and also called to defer it so that absent District 5 Councilwoman Ronnie Edwards could vote on it. R. J. “Smokie” Bourgeois of District 12 expressed support for the resolution, saying the two committees are redundant and unproductive. “Nobody seems to get too excited about committee meetings,” he says. “I don’t really see any benefit” in having the two meeting at issue. Joel Boé of District 9 disagreed, arguing the committees provide a necessary forum for complicated issues. “We serve at the pleasure of the people; we don’t serve at our inconvenience,” Boé says. “Some topics deserve to be discussed in committee. A lot of questions are asked in these meetings. The answers aren’t always found, but we can get them.” Bourgeois countered, “We don’t always get the information we need, even with the meetings.” The meeting agenda notes the Finance and Executive Committee recommends approval of the resolution. —Ian McGibboney