In my mind two names are associated with the City of San Angelo Development Corporation, Tommy Hiebert and John Bariou. Both men served multiple stints on that board. Hiebert is the current City Council representative for Single Member District #1.
Bariou spoke before City Council yesterday, serving legal notice and citing the body for not following the city charter. Concho Valley Homepage reported:
John Bariou has served the City on behalf of many voters for the “intentional, repeated and habitual subversion of the city charter.” Bariou said that San Angelo is chartered under Texas law as a Council-manager form of government but claims it is being run as ‘Mayor run.’
“Individually and collectively, the council, including the non-voting City Manager aided and abetted by the City Attorney has illegally deviated from the Charter without voter consent allowing one individual access to the Manager and directing specific actions without the deliberation by and specific authorization of the full council,” said Bariou, “All members of this council are complicit of not openly challenging these actions as required by ordinance.”
Council had conflict with two boards, the Development Corporation board and TIRZ board. The Mayor made her positions clear. I don't recall all members doing likewise.
Mayor Brenda Gunter is a local business person and voices her opinions. Prior Mayors Alvin New and Dwain Morrison did similarly. The difference is New and Morrison tended to speak last, giving other council members the opportunity to share their thoughts and raise questions. Mayor Gunter's style has her speaking first and making her position clearly known. It could be a challenge for other council members to share a differing view, but that's what they are there to do. Their job is representing constituents.
Compared to prior Council's this version displays uniform silence when it comes to future agenda items. Why do council members not ask for updates on lingering issues or identify new concerns raised by constituents? It leads the public to believe council members aren't interested in the issues raised or are afraid to share their concerns.
After Bariou spoke City Manager Daniel Valenzuela defended City Council and its accomplishments. What he didn't share is how he ensures this Council directs specific actions after deliberation and specific authorization.
Daniel did not state why items from the TIRZ board (recommended nonprofit project) and Animal Shelter Advisory Committee (recommended budget amount for spay/neuter) did not advance to City Council after their approval at the sub-board level. Mayor Gunter had not been favorable to these items in prior meetings.
The Mayor gave public comment after Bariou's citation. She raised three issues, police pay, property taxes and animal services. No elected official commented on the issue of improper Council operations. That may come in the near future.
An August budget meeting had considerable discussion of aggressive dogs and dog packs. Animal Shelter Chief Morgan Chegwidden informed Council of her data driven approach yet produced no information in that meeting or afterwards in response to questions raised.
A public information request on shelter spay/neuter compliance by adoption coordinator Concho Valley PAWS did not produce an updated one page memo as had been submitted in October 2021. For 2022 it produced a 58 page document. For 2023 it produced a 31 page document. Apparently, spay/neuter compliance is not part of the shelter's data driven approach. It is a city ordinance and Animal Control Officers write citations for failure to spay/neuter.
The City Manager's office should provide the information requested by all council members in official sessions. "I can pull some reports" implies followup and actual data sharing. A public information request revealed that did not happen.
Any City Council member should be able to ask questions, add items to the agenda, speak their mind on issues and ensure information is shared with the public. One year ago this council restricted public information requests in a surprise move. City Manager Daniel Valenzuela said it was targeted at one individual. I wonder how that worked out.
Six members of City Council heard John Bariou's citation in person. Councilman Tommy Hiebert was not in attendance. Hiebert has seen a number of Council's in operation. It would be interesting to hear his take.
Update 11-24-23: Tommy Hiebert is yet to weigh in, however San Angelo Live offered an opinion. Joe Hyde wrote a lengthy piece about John Bariou and city politics. It suggested Mayor Gunther might resign early in order to run for a third term. That's what happens in San Angelo when someone's leadership is challenged? What happened to listening and responding to stated concerns?
Not answering concerns and threatening more of the same sounds like city leadership. It's sad San Angelo Live defended that very behavior. It makes me wonder what Hyde would've done if he'd won the Tom Green County Judge election.
Update 12-1-23: Fox West Texas did a story on John's effort to reform City Council operations.
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