The Polson Local Government Review Study Commission completed its report earlier this year, and the proposed changes to the city charter and supplementary report of action to be taken will appear on the November ballot. 

Polson voters approved the citizen-led review of Polson’s government during the June 2024 primary election. This review commission is a unique aspect of Montana’s constitution that gives city and county citizens the option to review their form of government every 10 years.  

The review commission interviewed the commission and current and former staff. During their review, the commission hosted monthly public meetings and hearings. While the review commission recommends keeping the current form of government, it recommends amending the charter to emphasize the authority of elected officials as the city's policymaking body. 

These changes start with rewriting the charter preamble to state that the charter will secure the benefits of local self-government and provide an honest and accountable council-manager government. The review commission’s final report on the city website states that this action secures the benefits of “home rule, and affirms the values of representative democracy, professional management, strong leadership, public accountability, transparent decision-making, public engagement and regional cooperation.” 

The changes also propose that the legislative branch section should state that all powers of the city shall be granted to the city commission, except when otherwise provided by law or in the charter. This section also rewrites and adds to the mayor's powers and duties. 

The change states that the mayor shall represent the city in intergovernmental relations and, with the commission's advice and consent, appoint members of the city and community advisory boards. It also states that the mayor should present an annual state of the city message, appoint members and officers of the commission’s committees and perform other duties specified by the commission. 

Under the executive branch of the charter, the suggested changes detail adding that the city manager is responsible to the city commission. 

The changes also add duties for the city manager, including providing staff-supported services for the mayor and commission and helping the commission develop long-term goals and strategies for the city. 

Proposed changes to this section also detail adjustments to the appointment and removal of the chief legal officer under the commission's authority, with a majority vote. Previously, the city manager could appoint the legal officer with the authority of the city commission and remove the officer without the commission's consent.  

The changes also remove the transition provisions, which is an article detailing the establishment of a charter government when the city changed to a charter government in 2000. This article also stated that commission members would remain in their elected positions after the form of government changed and that all previous resolutions would stay in place until the commission revised or repealed them. 

Larry Ashcraft, the chair of the review commission, said the review commission believes this article is outdated and no longer needs to be part of the charter. 

If approved on the November ballot, the adjusted charter will take effect on Jan. 1.