2 Sep 2023 I was sent a message yesterday regarding someones post about the REDC Bylaws. Once again, the post missed the topic in so many ways by stating what I opposed or support without ever speaking with me or reviewing what was said in the several commissioner’s meetings.
Bylaws are an organization's internal operating rules. Both boards' bylaws need updating, part of which need to address their internal operations and not that external to the boards.
2 Sep 2023 My first year on the commission I observed both the commission and the REDCs. I made some mistakes by following what both had done traditionally. I heard from many citizens that the REDCs, supported by taxes, had not provided economic development in quite sometime. Many complained of the lack of production and the lack of change in the leadership of the REDCs.
I began looking into other cities with Economic Development Boards that have been successful. I learned three things. First, Cities appointed the same directors to both boards, if they have two boards. This allows a consolidation of vision between both boards and the city and cooperation between the two corporations.
Second, the EDCs employed an Executive Director. This would be someone trained in this very important task. This executive would be able to provide 40+ hours each week to generation of jobs and businesses.
The third important solution was that the cities appointed boards who were willing to engage these first two, seek training, create and publish a plan with the assistance of a director and above all, follow the law and Bylaws.
3 Sep 2023 The past REDC board requested Bylaw revisions of the city commission on three occasions. They proposed revisions on November 14, 2022 and on March 10, 2023. I personally, privately and repeatedly met with the officers, regarding the adherence to the bylaws and Texas statutes. One of which was our city manager in the first proposal.
The proposed revisions did not comply with Texas Statutes or the intent of the REDC Bylaws. They proposed self appointment, terms longer than statutes allow, attempts to govern the city commission among other unacceptable revisions. They propose to have different legal counsel from the city attorney. (Note that the attorney they had utilized, without commission approval in the past, is recently representing a party that is currently suing a city officer.) There were some items that were acceptable and the Bylaws do need to be updated.
The REDC proposed the same revisions again on May 22, 2023, in the first meeting of the new council. The REDC implied that they had incorporated the corrections suggested by the city attorney when it was clear that they had not. According to the documents in the meeting, the REDC disregarded legal counsel. They simply presented the same rejected revisions from March. The Commission rejected the proposal for the third time.
I hope for bylaws to be revised that help the new and future REDCS to succeed.
4 Sep 2023 On May 23, 2022 the City Commission decided to streamline the two REDC Boards. I stated there were currently 13 members between the two boards. Mr Butler, president of the A Board, resigned a few weeks prior. In order to duplicate the 7 directors on the two boards, we first wanted to use current directors from both boards, assuming that the pre-qualifications had already been verified and that we could benefit from the collective Director experience.
The task was then left to reduce 3 directors from each board and appoint the remainder to the board they did not already occupy. The remainder, we believed, would be faced with a greater task of steering two boards, even if only advisory. It was important to balance the load on members with regard to serving on multiple city related boards.
The A-board reduction included Ms. Mcullough, a city employee; Dr Campion, increasingly absent over the past 2 years; and Mr. Blackwell, increasingly absent over the past 2 years and not meeting the location proximity required to be on the B Board.
The B-board reduction included Mr. Calvert and Mr. Green, both directors on the ECWSD and on the newly formed Veterans Commission; and Mr. Kendrick, for health issues.
Within the next few weeks Ms. McCarti and Ms. Stephen’s resigned from both boards. The remaining 5 members included Mr. Gerdes, elected president of both REDC xcboards and also president of the ECWSD board, Mr Gunstanson, then city manager; Mr. McCabe, Mr. Charmin and Mr Rogers. This remained enough for a quorum and to conduct business.