The Richmond Hill City Council may be transitioning from meeting twice monthly to once a month after some discussion at its regular meeting Aug. 16.

During the meeting in City Hall, council member Russ Carpenter said he thought it would be better to hold one meeting a month as opposed to two and to also have the meetings at 6:30 p.m. instead of 7:30 p.m.

“We’re costing between $1,500 and $1,800 per meeting,” Carpenter said. “Obviously, if we went to one meeting (per month), we’re saving that.”

Another reason Carpenter cited was the city staff, saying it takes them hours to prepare information for meetings. By transitioning to one meeting a month, he said, it would give staff extra time to spend on other important things.

Carpenter also said Richmond Hill is the only government entity in the county that has two meetings per month.

“My point is I think it would be foolish to continue doing something for the simple fact that’s the only way we’ve always done it,” he said. “That is just the sheer definition of bureaucracy.”

Mayor Harold Fowler suggested that if council meetings were changed to one meeting per month, the Planning and Zoning Commission should follow suit.

“I don’t see any need in having them meet twice a month if we’re only meeting once a month,” he said.

Carpenter said he realized allowing council to set a frequency and a new date and time of meetings, it would require an ordinance amendment.

The council  voted to cancel its meeting set for Sept. 6. The group’s next meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 20.

Read more in the Aug. 20 edition of the News.