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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCRC Minutes 1981-09-21 Regular MINUTES OF CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION
September 21, 1981
The Charter Review Commission held a meeting on Tuesday,
September 21, 1981, at 8 : p .m. , in the Mayor' s Office at
City Hall, with the following members present .
Lynn Eignus, Chairman
William Kelly
Billy Glines
Jim Bowman
Gary Taliaferro
With a quorum present the meeting proceeded as follows .
Commission opened its meeting by reviewing last weeks
minutes.
Several of the items under discussion are awaiting
additional information from the City Attorney.
Letters have been mailed to the following past members
of Council still in the Friendswood area for their input
in writing.
1. Tom Lay
2 . Paul Maaz
3 . R. J. Blanken
4. Ralph Lowe
5. Milton Windler
6. Vickie Black
7 . Richard Haken
8 . William Patton
A memo from Councilman Loren wood dated September 21 , 1981 ,
proposed additional changes.
a
Page 2
Section 3 . 05 May and Mayor Pro-Tem
Changing third sentences to read: "The Mayor shall vote on
every proposition before the Council when present, except
that the Mayor may excuse .himself from voting when he
considers that a conflict of interest exists , but shall have
no power of veto. " A similar statement is needed for each
Councilmember. The group feeling was that more investigation
is needed on this particular item. . They will seek informat-
ion from the past officials to see how. often this has been
a problem or will it be a problem in the future.
Letter from Glen Cress of the Planning and Zoning Commission
recommended changes for consideration.
Section 3 . 06 C
Excluding a person who has been appointed to Council from
being a candidate for election to Council 'in the follow-ing
election. He feels Council might be reluctant to appoint
anyone because of the possible advantage of the appointee
might have in the next election.
The Commission felt in doing this you might exclude a
candidate who might be the right person for the job.
Section 3 . 09
Provision for Council to hold special meetings at a place
other than City Hall. He feels there may be occasions
where larger meeting room would be required such as joint
meetings with FISD on. CCDD.
The feeling on this particular item was discussed and the
probability of this happening is remote.
Section 4. 01C
Consideration of requiring a vote of 5 members of Council
to remove the City Manager. To provide the City Manager
a more secure job and strenghthen his role in the proper
administration of City affairs.
The consensus was for 4. 01C to remain as the charter reads
at this time.
Page 3
Limitations for Council Members
Mr. Cress recognizes the advantages to limiting terms by
charter for Council Members . He would not be strongly
opposed to limiting number of successive terms to three,
his preference would be not to make any changes to the
charter. The best way to limit the terms of a Council
Member is through the election process.
The same position on this item has been herd quite a
number of times. It was discussed at length in the first
charter meeting.
Single Member Districts
Mr. Cress would be opposed to the creation of a single
member districts for several reasons.
1. Holding all Council Members accountable to all
voters within the City.
2 . Single-member districts would tend to be more derisive
than helpful.
3 . Single-member districts would encourage and promote
an atmosphere of competition, polorization.
He prefers to think of Friendswood as one community and
not six different geographical or political districts.
Would prefer Council members to think of Friendswood in
terms of what is best for the City as a whole and not
particular districts.
The feeling on single member districting was some of
same thoughts of the Commission and outside information
received.
The last item discussed was possibly a .need for assignment.
Each member taking one or more of the proposals of input
and consolidating the information on paper to be brought to
the meeting for discussion.
eity of 9hendswood
109 WILLOWICK-PHONE 482-9323
FRIENDSWOOD, TEXAS 77546
September 21, 1981
TO: 1981 City of Friendswood Charter Review Commission
FROM: Councilman Loren E. Wood
SUBJECT: Additional Proposed Change
REF: Changes Proposed August 31, 1981
In addition to the referenced changes proposed by me in
referenced letter to the Commission dated August 31, 1981,
I have one further change to recommend for your consideration:
Section 3.05: Mayor and Mayor Pro-Tem
Change third sentence to read: "The Mayor shall vote on every
proposition before the Council when present, except that the
Mayor may excuse himself from voting when he considers that
a conflict of interest exists, but shall have no power of veto."
A similar statement is needed for each Councilmember, in the
appropriate Section: "Each Councilmember shall vote on every
proposition before the Council when present, except that a
Councilmember may excuse himself from voting when he considers
that a conflict of interest exists."
Note: This is basically the manner in which Mayors and
Councilmembers have conducted themselves in recent years,
including excusing themselves when conflict of interest arose;
i.e. , vote could affect their personal. gain. However, one
Councilmember in recent years chose to abstain on more than
one occasion and this choice was upheld by the City Attorney.
Abstentions may be good when Mayor or Wuncilmembers have not
done homework oil a given issue, but a number of abstentions
Subject: Additional Proposed Change September 21, 1981
Page 2
on the same issue can delay valid vote for several weeks or
months. Also, them are uther ways to delay votes, such as
tabling issues. I favor Mayor and Counci]members each taking
a firm "yea" or "nay" position on each motion, except where
personal conflict of interest prevents this and they must be
excused from voting.
14
ren E. Wood
uncil Position No. 4
LEW/ksn
cc: Mayor
Couneilmembers
City Attorney
Sivo
sty of 9hendswood
109 WILLOWICK-PHONE 4823323
q" FRIENDSWOOD, TEXAS 77546
E A � ` •
September 21, 1981
TO: 1981 City of Friendswood Charter Review Commission
FROM: Councilman Loren E. Wood
SUBJECT: Additional Proposed Change
REF: Changes Proposed August 31, 1981
In addition to the referenced changes proposed by me in
referenced letter to the Commission dated August 31, 1981,
I have one further change to recommend for your consideration;
Section 3.05 ; Mayor and Mayor Pro-Tem
Change third sentence to read: "The Mayor shall vote on every
proposition before the Council when present, except that the
Mayor may excuse himself from voting when he considers that
a conflict of interest exists, but shall have no power of veto."
A similar statement is needed for each Councilmember, in the
appropriate Section: "Each Councilmember shall vote on every
proposition before the Council when present, except that a ,
Councilmelnber, may excuse himself from voting when he considers
that a conflict of interest exists."
Note: This is basically the manner in which Mayors and
Councilmembers 'ittve conducted themselves in recent years,
including excu.i.- :-, themselves when conflict of interest arose;
i.e. , vote cou ,! uf`f-ct their personal gain. However, one
Councilmember i_n :ocent years chose to abstain on more than
one occasion any this c�{oice was upheld by the City Attorney.
Abstentions may good ..Then Mayor or Councilmembers have not
done homework or, c. given issue, but a number of abstentions
Subject: Additional Proposed Change September 21, 1981
Page 2
on the same issue can delay valid vote for several weeks or
months. Also, there are other ways to delay votes, such as
tabling issues. I favor Mayor and Counci]members each taking
a firm "yea" or "nay" position on each motion, except where
personal conflict of interest prevents this and they must be
excused from voting.
ren E. Wood
uncil Position No. 4
LEW/ksn
cc: Mayor
Councilmembers
City Attorney