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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-05-2026 Council Organizational Meeting MinutesORGANIZATIONAL MEETING JANUARY 05, 2026 Be it remembered that the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana, met in-person and via Microsoft Teams app on Monday, January 5, 2026, at 6:00 P.M. Council President Canneth Lee called the meeting to order. Please note the attached link for the meeting recording: https :/ / docs.southbendin.gov /W ebLink/browse.aspx? dbid=0&mediaid=389496 ROLL CALL COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Canneth Lee Ophelia Gooden-Rodgers Sharon L. McBride Troy Warner Sheila Niezgodski Rachel Tomas Morgan Karen L. White COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT Sherry Bolden-Simpson Dr. Oliver Davis OTHERS PRESENT: Bianca L. Tirado Jasmine Jackson Matthew Neal Veronica Pitt-Payne Lari' onna Green Bob Palmer 1st District 2nd District 3rd District 4th District 6th District At-Large At-Large 5th District At-Large City Clerk Chief Deputy Clerk Director of Policy Director of Special Projects Communications and Marketing Specialist Council Attorney Council President Lee made a motion to resolve from the Presidency and tum the meeting over to the City Clerk, Bianca L. Tirado, to begin the process of electing officers of the South Bend Common Council. ELECTION OF COUNCIL PRESIDENT FOR 2026 Clerk Tirado opened the nominations for the office of Council President. Councilmember Troy W amer nominated Councilmember Canneth Lee for the office of the President. Councilmember Ophelia Gooden-Rodgers seconded the nomination. Councilmember Sharon McBride -Canneth Lee Councilmember Canneth Lee -Canneth Lee Councilmember Troy W amer-Canneth Lee Councilmember Dr. Oliver Davis -Absent Councilmember Rachel Tomas Morgan -Canneth Lee Councilmember Sheila Niezgodski -Canneth Lee Councilmember Ophelia Gooden-Rodgers -Canneth Lee Councilmember Sherry Bolden-Simpson -Absent Councilmember Karen L. White -Canneth Lee Councilmember Lee was elected as Council President by a roll call vote majority of seven (7) Councilmembers with two (2) Councilmembers absent. Clerk Tirado turned the meeting over to Council President Lee to complete the process of electing officers of the South Bend Common Council. ELECTION OF COUNCIL VICE-PRESIDENT FOR 2026 Council President Lee opened the nominations for the office of Council Vice-President. ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING JANUARY 05, 2026 Councilmember Gooden-Rodgers nominated Councilmember Sheila Niezgodski for the office of Vice-President. Councilmember Rachel Tomas Morgan seconded the nomination. Councilmember Sharon McBride -Sheila Niezgodski Councilmember Canneth Lee -Sheila Niezgodski Councilmember Troy Warner-Sheila Niezgodski Councilmember Dr. Oliver Davis -Absent Councilmember Rachel Tomas Morgan -Sheila Niezgodski Councilmember Sheila Niezgodski -Sheila Niezgodski Councilmember Ophelia Gooden-Rodgers -Sheila Niezgodski Councilmember Sherry Bolden-Simpson -Absent Councilmember Karen L. White -Sheila Niezgodski Councilmember Niezgodski was elected as Council Vice President by a roll call vote majority of seven (7) Councilmembers with two (2) Councilmembers absent. ELECTION OF CHAIRPERSON OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE FOR 2026 Council President Lee opened the nominations for the office of Chairperson of the Committee of the Whole. Council Vice President Niezgodski nominated Councilmember Warner for the office of Chairperson of the Committee of the Whole. Councilmember Gooden-Rodgers seconded the nomination. Councilmember Sharon McBride -Troy Warner Councilmember Canneth Lee -Troy Warner Councilmember Troy Warner-Troy Warner Councilmember Dr. Oliver Davis -Absent Councilmember Rachel Tomas Morgan-Troy Warner Councilmember Sheila Niezgodski -Troy Warner Councilmember Ophelia Gooden-Rodgers -Troy Warner Councilmember Sherry Bolden-Simpson -Absent Councilmember Karen L. White-Troy Warner Councilmember Warner was elected as Chairperson of the Committee of the by a roll call vote majority of seven (7) Councilmembers with two (2) Councilmembers absent. APPOINTMENT OF COUNCIL ATTORNEY FOR 2026 Council President Lee nominated Attorney Bob Palmer for Council Attorney. Councilmember Sharon McBride -Attorney Bob Palmer Councilmember Canneth Lee -Attorney Bob Palmer Councilmember Troy Warner-Attorney Bob Palmer Councilmember Dr. Oliver Davis -Absent Councilmember Rachel Tomas Morgan -Attorney Bob Palmer Councilmember Sheila Niezgodski -Attorney Bob Palmer Councilmember Ophelia Gooden-Rodgers -Attorney Bob Palmer Councilmember Sherry Bolden-Simpson -Absent Councilmember Karen L. White -Attorney Bob Palmer Attorney Bob Palmer was appointed as Council Attorney by a roll call vote majority of seven (7) Councilmembers with two (2) Councilmembers absent. 2