Local Government Review Board

City of Sidney Montana’s Sunrise City 115 2nd Street S.E., Sidney, Montana - 406-433-2809 Local Government Review Board 10-9-25 Minutes October 09, 2025 at 5:30 PM 1. Call to Order Chair Sergent called the regular meeting of the Local Government Review Board to order. Present was: LGRB: Sergent, Whiteman Others: James Falcon (Sidney Herald), Gary Schoepp, Karen Schoepp, Dayton Cherney, Richard Hobbs, Jared Troudt, Duanne Mitchell, Joe Kauffman, Violet Tharp, 2. New Business a. July 10, 2025 Minutes Motion was made to approve. Motion made by Whiteman, Seconded by Sergent. Voting Yea: Sergent, Whiteman 3. Old Business a. Forms of Government Discussion: Mayor/Council versus City Manager/Council Clerk/Treasurer Chamberlin presented a slideshow on understanding the forms of government. Key items discussed included adding a city manager would not change things, concerns about wage and increase in budget (Lewistown paying $109,000/year), favoring the strong-mayor form of government, total increase to budget for additional position could cost $200,000 split among 8 departments, the council would still approve the budget as they do now if there was a manager form. The City of Sidney is an equal opportunity provider.  Constituents also discussed the merit of the review being passed and the call for change, with some feeling because it was voted in people want change and others disagreeing and the process could be enough. It was further discussed that this is not the final discussion on this topic, nor is this the only topic that will be reviewed and the public will be involved in the process. b. Engaging the Public Clerk/Treasurer Chamberlin presented the LGRB with a proposed Public Engagement Plan (PEP). The PEP included an outline for the remainder of the review process, by quarter, showing opportunities for public engagement outside of the planned meetings. Such engagement included surveys, pop-ups at different events, speaking at civic group meetings, a scenario night, educational materials, and additional less formal meetings with the LGRB. 4. Questions/ Comments from Public Clerk/Treasurer Chamberlin read a letter from Alderwoman Godfrey into the record, asking for the review board to consider a hybrid of the two forms of government, keeping the actual form the Mayor-Councill but recommending the City Council they create a position and hire a City Manager. It was indicated that the public was not aware that adding a city manager in addition to mayor was a possibility and the different ways that having a manager could look for the City of Sidney was explained, from changing the form, changing the powers and form or just adding the position with no formal change. 5. Questions/ Comments from Board Nothing. 6. Adjournment Next meeting January 8th, 2026. Adjourned at 6:38pm. The City of Sidney is an equal opportunity provider.