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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