HomeMy Public PortalAboutCharter Review Committee Minutes 07-25-2012 011/11/ Charter Review Commission Minutes
July 25, 2012
Community Board Room
Members Present:
Chairman Bill Agan
Secretary/Vice Chair Jeff Ritter
Member Loyce Greer
Member Doug Knowlton
Member LaRue Wall
Members Absent:
Member Janece Hill
Audience Present:
None
Chairman Agan called the meeting to order at 7:09PM
1. Read and Approve minutes from last meeting
(July 18, 2012)
Member Wall motioned to approve the minutes from the July 18, 2012 meeting.
ex) Member Greer seconded.
The motion was approved by unanimous vote.
2. Review City Charter.
Member Greer read the definition of Ethics from the justice department.
Member Wall suggested that the Charter should contain language about Ethics regarding
Employees as well as elected officials.
Section 3.09—Prohibitions
Extensive discussion by everyone regarding prohibited actions which should result in
forfeiture of office to be included in the Charter.
The consensus of the Commission was that most forfeitable offenses are covered
elsewhere in the Charter and would be more appropriately placed in their appropriate
Sections within the Charter.
Section 3.10—Meetings of the City Council
Member Wall suggested leaving the majority of the Section as is and including Attorney
Elam's suggestion of rewording paragraph 2 to say, "2 or more Council Members in an
open meeting"when referring to calling a meeting.
Section 3.11 —Abstention
The consensus of the Commission was to keep the language as proposed.
Section 3.12—Code of Ethics
Member Wall recommended adding to item 3, "while on duty".
Secretary Ritter recommended moving the Attorney Elam's suggested language of the
Council creating a Code of Ethics from 3.13 into 3.12.
Member Greer indicated she would bring in the Code of Ethics from the City of Melissa
for us to see.
Section 3.13—Conflict of Interest
The consensus of the Commission was to include Attorney Elam's recommended
language regarding the Council creating a Code of Ethics.
Member Greer stated that she believed paragraph 2 regarding gifts of$50 remain in the
Charter.
The Commission agreed that if a Council Member voted on an action where he or she
clearly should not have voted, that action should result in immediate forfeiture.
Section 3.14—Independent Audit
The consensus of the Commission was to keep the language as proposed.
Section 3.15—Procedure to Enact Legislation and Publication of Ordinance
Members Wall and Greer recommended to include Attorney Elam's language of
publishing only once within 10 days of passage.
Discussion among all members regarding the reading of each ordinance twice before final
approval.
Secretary Ritter stated he felt strongly that every ordinance should be read by the City
Council before final approval. Chairman Agan indicated that the Council has already
begun to do this and that inclusion in the Charter would be a good thing.
Section 3.16—Authentication, Recording, Codification, Printing and Distribution j
Secretary Ritter strongly recommended keeping the provision requiring a copy of the
Charter be kept in the Richland Hills Public library.
Member Knowlton strongly agreed that all ordinances must be available to the public.
Section 3.17—Rules of Procedure—Minutes
The consensus of the Commission was to eliminate the second paragraph.
' Member Greer stated that the last paragraph must be retained in the Charter.
3. Assignment for Next Meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday August 1, 2012 for the Commission to
continue reviewing the Charter.
4. Public Comments
None
5. Adjournment
Member Wall motioned to adjourn.
Member Knowlton seconded.
Chairman Agan adjourned the meeting at 9:04PM.
Jeff Ritter-Secretary. Bill Agan-Chairman ' ,�