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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCharter Committee Review Minutes 11/4/1968Citi;?:ns' Charter Committee Meeting November 4, 1968 CALL TO ORDER The meeting of the citiaenst, Charter Comp miltgq for the City of Euless was called to order at 4:05 P, M,, in the conference Room of Euless Gity Hall, by Chairman Bobby R, Fuller, Members pro $ant are listed as follows: Me¢dms. Mary Heartsfield end Anne Martin; kl ssr�. 0. S. Dobkin$, B; Bert Hey], lease Tlbbets, A.'P. Anthony, Lenard Spwell, Rill Pasteur and bobby Fuller. (Absent: Mr. W. J. "Doc" Hyde) Also present were Recording Secretary Florsnco Murr and City Attprney James Cribbs. (Mr. Cribbs arrived later ►n the meeting.) �FPROVAL OF MINUTE Chairman Fuller inquired if them were prreetipns to the minptes of the previous; meeting, dated Octoiaer 23, 1901 1;�+ copy of the minutes was mailed to each member prior to this date,) Mrs. Martin stated that she questions Mr, Sowell's statement on page four, with reference to Piares-At7large System For election of Council Miembers. Mrs. Martin stated that she was of the o pin'lQn there was the Place System and the At,iarge System. Mr. aowell explained that this designa- tiQn is made to distinguish the system from the Ward Syr tQm and adyised Mrs. Martin that in Places-AtrLarge a gandigate may pnnounco for any Flape he chooses. Minutes of the previous meeting, dated Pa Wber ?�, 1968, were approved as written. 2 CANSIRERATION OF PROPOSED CH{AN E F OM -LARGE SYSTEM'TQ PLACE' YSTEM P E �C7' QN' OF COUNCIL MEMB3 R5 Chairman Fuller remindod Committ e Members of their 4ecisipn to table the question "Whether or not the preserli 9t-Large §ystQm for election of Ceyncil Members should be Fhangel to the Rlace $ystem'l. �hpirman Fuller'inquired if there were members who wish to comment in this matter: Mrs. Martin stated that she Is deflrlitely ire favor of Councilmen running for places -- that this system would enpble tho citizens' retaining the Councilman who was doing a good _job and Qliminat- ing the one who is not doing a good job. Mrs. Martin gpmmented that, in her opI nign, this is the democratic way -- that the other system is a popularity Cgpkgst, more or less, and she would like to see the City of Euless change to the Place System. Mrs. Martin referred to the survey of area cities made by Phairman Fuller, which was discussed at the, previous meeting and commented (P� Two, Minutes of Citizens'„Charter Committee Meetiri N vember 4,-1g6 .j that these pities arc larger than the City of �,uloss, Mrs. Martin advised that She is interested in cities the size of Culess, Chairman Fuller advised that Grand Prairie Is somewhat larger than the Cjty of guless — thpt the At-l..arge System i$ uspo in that, City for eleo,tiop of Council Members. Chairman Fuller stated, further, that in making that survey, he attempted to cget a cross-section that this Committee needs to decide what is best for the City of Euless. Mr. T"ibbets stated that he has mixed emg0 Q ns concerning this question -- that, in his opinion, the City of Puless has been fortunate in the past, in its election of Councilmen -- that the Place System might encourage more people to run for office, Mrs. Martin made the motion �p recommend that the City of Euless change frPm the At--il.arge System to the Places-At�- t,arge $ystem for election cif Council Members. Mr. Sowell seconded the motion, and the vote is as follq��; Ayes: Mesdms. Martin and Heart;sfigldi Messrs. Dobkins, Heyl, Tibbets, Anthony, Sowell and Fuller Nays: Mr. basteur Chal man Fuller declared the motion carried. CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSED INCRCA$� i 'OI A'NNI NG' AND' ZON1 NG M�110119'H1''P Chairman Fuller stated that the Planning pnd Zoning Commission is composed of five (5) members -- that three mem�ers are appointed by the gppncil one year and two members are appointed the following year, Mr. Hey1 stated that, in his opinion, it vould be good to increase the membership to seven (7) -- that yop would come nearer having a quorum, and he considers you would get a better crops -section, Mrs. Martin advised that, in her opinion, honing is one of the most important things in our Cityys growth — that any- thing would be an improvement that there ha been some unhappiness with the City's Zoning Board, and she considers tM seven (7) membgrs would be a rod number, Ors. Heartsfield asl40d the question, IrWogid you be more apt: to have a quorum with seven members than with five?,', Mr. Sowell advised that it is 60% one watt qnd 567o the other that, in his opinion, the larger the membership, tfel lets importance each member plape¢ on his being present. Mr. Sowell agreed that you might get a gr0ter pross-,sgctioq by lricreasing the membership. ((� ae Three, Minutes of Citizens' Charter Committee Meetina, Noyembe 4` 1968) Mr. Heyl made the motion to recommand that the membership of the Planning and Zoning Commission be Ipgreased from five members to seven members, with four members being appointed on the even years, and three members being appointed on the odd years. Mr. Anthony, �ogonded the motion{ and the vote is as follows: Ayes: Mesdms. Martin end Heartsfield; Messrs. Hey], Tibbets Anthony, Sowell, Pasteur and Fuller Nays: Mr. pobkins Chairman Fuller declarod the motion carried. DlSCUSSIQN OF WHETHER OR NOT THE MAYWAND CONCIL SHOULD RFCEIVE V'Si ARY i, Chairman Fuller reminded Committee Members Opt the question of paying a salary to the Mayor and Members of the City GQunGil had been discussed at a previous meeting; h6weyer, no decision was reached at that time. Chairman Fuller inquired if anyone wished to comment, at this time. Mrs. Martin stated that shp dggs not know about the City's bud "t and inquired if there is funds too absorb this p�ympnt, Chairman Fuller sated that, in his QpjnjQn, this would not be a problem r- that it would not be Offectiye until after the Charter Amendment llgption which, possibly, would be held in cpnr jJ nrptign with the Pity Oeutipn in April, 1969. Mrs. Martin advised that she operates her hpgse on a budget and that she wo,pld like to see the City do the same. Chairman Fuller assured Mrs, Martin that the Pity is operated on a budget. Mrs. Heartsfield inquired if this payment would be only for meetings w~ioh were attended. Several members were in egi*gement that this stipulation should be made, ,I Mr, Pasteur stated that he is In favor of this -- that he would like to see the City of guless pay its Meygr and Gounplimen per meeting, on amount which would pot be out-moded and trivial In a few years as is the $19.OQ which is paid by some of our area cities. Mr. Pasteur suggesteel that they be paid $25.00 for each meeting which is attended. Mr. Dobkins commented that sometimes numprous special mertings are called, 1' Qage Fqur, Minutes of Citi�ens' Charter Cpmrnittee Meeting, November 4, 196$) Chairman Fuller Ruggested hat this Commit, top, specify that this payment is for regularly scheduled rneetln�s, Mr, Pasteur made the motion to recommp,nd bhp payment of $25.00 per meeting for the Mayor and gouncil Members, with pay- me,nt being based upon their attendanpe at each regularly scheduled meeting, not'to exceed $.5O.09 per month. Mrs. Fleertsfield seconded the motion, and the vote is as follows: Ayes: Mesdms. Fleartsfield and Margin; Messrs. Dobkins�, Heyl, Tibbegs, Anthony, Sowell, Pasteur and Fuller Nays: None gha,irman Fuller declared the motion carried, (01,ty Attorney Cribbs arrived at this time.) 1V. 'PISEUSSION OF AMENDMENTS ,�$CFSSITATEb OY kECIENT Lpq f'kLAT'I ON Chairman Fuller recognized City Attorney ,Jame Cribbs, who discussed amendments necessitated by recent legislation and q�rtain sections which might be re-wordcd. Annexation of Properties City Attorney fribbs advised that Article Wo restricts the annexation,of properties, and he previously considered an �Mp6dment in this area. However, all available territory, in every direction, has been annexed by the City, and in his opinion, there is no use in adding thl$ Article to this list, Notice of Claim Mr. Cribbs stated that the Crity Charter states that a claim must be filed with the City Secretary within thirty (30� days after the, time at which it is claimed such damages were inflicted ►upon such person or property T- ihat the charter should state that "a written pl�lm must be filed ...". Mr, Cribbs stated that he recommends that the Notice of Claim provision be amended to include the word "Written'. Posting Appeal Donds Mr. Cribbs stated that hp proposes an amendment concerning the posting of appeal bonds, in the event the City of &Moss is engaged in litigation. Mr. Cribbs advised that he plans to incorporate these amendments into the propositions presented by this committee, and that a copy will be sent to each Committee Member. „ November 4, 1968) 11Raae Five, Minutes of Citizens' Carter Committee Meetina Members of the Committee were in agreement with Mr. Cribbs' plans. V. SVMMARy Chairman Fuller reviewed each of the questions considered by this committee, Mr, Sowell male the motion tq recommend that the Euless City Council call an election to considgr amendments to the Eulgas City Charter, and that consideration be given this Cgmmittee+s recomr menOations, listed as follows: 1. That the 09te for Mynicipal Elections be changed from the first Tuesday in April to the second Saturday in Aril, 2. That the system for election of Council Members be changed from the At -Large System to the Placgs*At-Large System. 3. That no change in t” number of Gquncil Members be made at this time. 4. That the number serving on the Planning and Zoning Com- mission be increased from five members to seven members, with three being appointed on the odd years and four being appointed on the even years. 5,, That the Maypt and Council Members shall receive a salary of $25,00 for e4ah regular monthly meeting, based on attendance not t-) exceed $50.00 per month. 6. That Section 6 of Article XII entitled "Notice of Claim" be amended by odaing the word "written" after the word "true" in the seventh line of such Section. 7. That the following warding exempting the City of Euless from Appeal Bgnds be' added as Section 19, Article Xli, entitled "General Provisions" of the Charter of the City of Euless: "It shall not be necessary in any aFtion, Suit r pro- ceeding in which the City of Euless is a party ,7or any bond, undertaking or security to be executed by or an behalf of the said City, but all such actions, suits, appeals or proceedings shall be ponducted in the same manner as if such bond, undertaking or security has been given and said City shall be liable as if such obligation had been duly given and exeru�ed." Mr. Pasteur seconded the motion, and the vote is as follows: Ayes: Mesdms. Martin and Heartsfield; Messrs. Dobkins, Heyl, Tibbets, Anthony, Sgwoll, Pasteur and Fuller Nays: None (paq�,,$Ix, Minutes of Citizens' Charter Committee Meetinq, Noveniher 4, 1968) Chairman Fuller declared the mo, ion carried. VI, ADJOURNMENT Tjie meeting adjourned at 4:35 P. M, APPROVED: Ch6irma'n fsm