By CAROLINE CARMICHAEL / Staff Writer

A Non-discrimination Ordinance draft composed by the Montevallo City Council NDO Committee is available to the public for review and comment after a committee meeting on Jan. 25 at Montevallo City Hall.

The draft has been submitted to the entire City Council for perusal, and is available to the public at cityofmontevallo.com.

A second public deliberative forum is in the making, although a time, date and location is not yet determined, according to City Clerk and Treasurer Herman Lehman.

The first public deliberative forum was held on Sept. 28, 2017, opening discussion between Montevallo residents concerning the proposed ordinance.

Since then, several community groups have hosted respective panels presenting support of or opposition to the NDO.

The Montevallo City Council NDO Committee, headed by Councilman Jason Peterson, was voted into formation during a City Council meeting on Oct. 9.

The committee strives to identify “appropriate actions, including refining the ordinance in a way that makes the most sense for us” and engage individuals representing both sides of the discussion, Mayor Hollie Cost said at the Oct. 9 meeting.

At a recent City Council meeting, Cost said she hopes to have the NDO draft ready for voting in February.