Standing Committees

City of Mount Vernon departments and agencies are placed into one (1) of four (4) City Council oversight committees known as a Standing Committee. The City Council President does not chair a committee, however, the other four are designated chair of a committee and co - chair another committee. They are as follows: Human Resources, Finance & Planning, Legislation & Public Works and Public Safety & Codes. Chairs and Co-Chair rotate each year and are decided on by the City Councilmembers and set at their Annual Statutory Meeting which takes place the first working business day of the new year. Below are the committees and which departments and agencies fall under each.

2023 City Council Standing Committees


Human Resources 

Chair: Councilmember Derrick Thompson   Co Chair: Councilmember Edward Poteat

CIVIL SERVICE, HEALTH AND WELFARE SERVICES, HUMAN RIGHTS, RECREATION, SENIOR CITIZEN AFFAIRS, YOUTH BUREAU, MEMORIAL FIELD, DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES, MENTAL HEALTH, IMMIGRATION, MOUNT VERNON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT, VETERANS  AFFAIRS, MOUNT VERON PUBLIC LIBRARY

Finance & Planning

Chair: Councilmember Edward Poteat   Co Chair: Councilmember Derrick Thompson

BUDGET, CITY OWNED PROPERTY TAKEN THROUGH IN REM TAX FORECLOSURE, PROCEEDINGS OR OTHER MEANS AND NOT NEEDED FOR MUNICIPAL PURPOSES (UNDER THE JURISTDICTION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE), FUNDED PROGRAMS AND GRANTS, PLANNING, TAXES AND ASSESSMENT, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD, LANDMARKS & HISTORICAL PRESERVATION, OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL, MEMORIAL FIELD FINANCES, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, URBAN RENEWAL AGENCY, BOARD OF ASSESSMENT REVIEW

Legislation & Public Works

Chair: Councilmember Lisa A. Copeland   Co Chair: Councilmember Cathlin Gleason

CITY CLERK, MAYOR'S OFFICE , LAW DEPARTMENT, MANAGEMENT SERVICES, CHARTER REVISIONS, PARKS, PUBLIC WORKS, RAILROADS AND BRIDGES, CITY PROPERTY, WATER DEPARTMENT, STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATION, GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS, CABLE  ADVISORY COMMITTEE, TREE ADVISORY BOARD, BOARD OF ETHICS 

Public Safety & Codes

Chair: Councilmember Cathlin Gleason   Co Chair: Councilmember Lisa A. Copeland

OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FIRE DEPARTMENT, BUILDINGS DEPARTMENT, HOUSING AND CODE ENFORCEMENT, PARKING BUREAU, POLICE DEPARTMENT, PET CONTROL, ZONING, RETURNING CITIZENS, OVERSIGHT AND INVESTIGATIONS, CIVILIAN COMPLAINT REVIEW BOARD, TAXICABS,  TAXI COMMISSION