San Angelo Mayor Gunter scuttled a number of proposed bylaw changes that would have given the Development Corporation Board more power in COSADC leadership/officer selection and the ability to contract with other entities than the city for business support services.
Councilman Harry Thomas said he was surprised the
City Attorney allowed the document to be brought forward. City Attorney Theresa James stated she did not have the ability to screen items between the COSADC board and City Council as that is a direct reporting relationship.
This is the
second item from COSADC that Council rejected since former Economic
Development Director Guy Andrews spoke out against City Manager Daniel
Valenzuela and Assistant City Manager Michael Dane and Economic Development Board First Vice President John Bariou raised concerns about the independence of the Development Corporation Board as stated in Texas law. The first was the two year contract with the Chamber of Commerce for direct marketing services. Council required it be a one year agreement.
Council planned to slap down Bariou in their November meeting but backed down when he asked the item be moved to Open Session. It did so indirectly today by denying the proposed bylaws changes. Bariou was in attendance but not offered the opportunity to speak. I'm sure he took good notes as he sat in the front row.
Update: Michael Dane's "presentation" on the COSADC bylaws felt like a setup. Dane's series of "I don't knows" must have been a disappointment to the majority of COSADC board members who voted for the changes. Councilman Tommy Hiebert's sitting there silently must have been a great disappointment to Bariou. Hiebert and Bariou are two names I associate with the Development Corporation since it began.
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