City Council approves term limits for Committee and Board Members

By: Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2014, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.

The Eagle Pass City Council voted unanimously to approve an ordinance establishing term limits for all Committee and Board members appointed by the City Council during their special meeting held on Tuesday, June 17, 2014.

During discussion, City of Eagle Pass City Attorney Brian Narvaez of Langley & Banack, Inc. stated that the term limits ordinance is to place general restrictions on all City Committees and Boards’ members appointed by City Council.  “It’s my understanding that the Eagle Pass Water Works and the International Bridge System Boards already have term limits in place. This [ordinance] would then only apply to Boards and Committees that don’t have any term limits in place. In addition to imposing term limits, this also will provide a remedy for committee members that fail to fulfill their obligations by failing to show up at meetings. This is just a default rule that’s meant to provide guidelines to help increase public participation in City Boards and Committees,” said Narvaez.

Eagle Pass Mayor Ramsey English Cantu stated that this was something that had been previously discussed by the City Council and Administration in order to address some of the concerns that hold back and delay important City business as a result of absenteeism by Committee and Board members.  For example, this new Ordinance will apply to the Eagle Pass Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, Hotel and Room Occupancy Tax Committee, Planning and Zoning Commission, Board of Adjustments and Appeals, Public Library Board, and all committees and boards appointed by City Council.

The new term limits ordinance applies only to those committees and boards appointed by the City Council that do not currently contain term limits under their respective charter or bylaws.  The ordinance provides that “all individuals appointed to serve as a member of a board or committee of the City Council for a term of two (2) years or less shall be subject to a term limit of two (2) terms lasting the period of time designated by their appointment.”  In addition, the ordinance further provides that “all individuals appointed to serve as a member of a board or committee of the City Council for a term lasting more than two (2) years is subject to a one-time term limit of service lasting the period of time designated by their appointment.”  The ordinance also provides that “these term limits shall not apply to any individual serving an unexpired term or vacancy left by a former member of the board or committee.”

The new ordinance also provides certain forfeiture provisions including “an individual shall automatically forfeit his/her appointed position as a member of a board or committee of the City Council for any of the following reasons: i) a change in status such that the individual no longer meets the membership qualifications established by the City Council for service on the board or committee; ii) the individual fails to attend three consecutive meetings of the board or committee without being excused by a majority vote of the board or committee members in attendance at the meeting for which the individual is absent; or iii) any other reason if the removal is requested by the official who appointed the member to the board or committee.”

Section 3-8 of the City’s Code of Ordinances grants the City Council, by majority vote, responsibility of appointing all members to any board or committee the City Council creates.

The new ordinance establishing term limits becomes effective immediately after being passed and approved on the third and final reading by the City Council.

The purpose of the new ordinance establishing term limits is to provide more opportunities to a greater number of local citizens who wan to serve the public on a board or committee as well as ensure that board or committee members fulfill their obligations and responsibilities by attending the scheduled meetings.  For example, City Manager Gloria Barrientos highlighted the Planning and Zoning Commission failed to make a quorum recently causing important City of Eagle Pass business to be delayed to the detriment of the citizens.

The new ordinance establishing term limits on board and committee members appointed by the City Council still requires to be read and approved at two additional City Council meetings and any person or organization interested in commenting on the proposed ordinance may do so at the next City Council meeting.