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Budget vote questioned
City’s attorney asked to review council’s action
on proposed FY 2007 budget
By Pearl Cantrell
Monitor Staff Writer
GUN BARREL CITY–Legal counsel is looking into whether last month’s vote to
pass the budget was legal or not.
The only problem with that is the action to hire the city’s new legal
counsel, Andy Messer of Frisco, may also have been a vote short of legal,
according to the city charter.
Gun Barrel City’s charter, following the pattern set by Robert’s Rules of
Order, requires a two-thirds majority vote of the full council to pass a
city budget, or to hire an attorney to represent it.
This is sometimes referred to as a super majority.
At question is whether the council seat recently vacated by James Jacobs
still counts as part of the full five-member council, and whether the mayor
is allowed to break a 2-2 tie when it comes to the budget and choosing an
attorney.
A two-thirds vote of a five-member council means four votes. A two-thirds
majority of four members would be three.
The charter says the mayor can break a tie, but if you include the mayor as
one of the people voting, then the number of the council goes back to five –
which is still a vote short, because two-thirds of five is still four.
To be on the safe side, the city has been operating from last year’s budget,
last month’s 3-2 approval of the fiscal year 2007 budget notwithstanding.
A memo to council members from city secretary Christy Eckerman reminded them
that Jacob’s vacancy must be filled within 30 days of the acceptance of his
resignation, by another two-thirds vote, excluding the mayor.
During the past few months, the council has been split 2-2 on most issues.
Naming a replacement will require cooperation, Eckerman pointed out in her
memo.
Calls to the city on how the city was faring under last year’s budget went
unanswered by presstime Thursday.
Primarily, a written city budget allows citizens to know just how their
money is being spent, councilwoman Kathy Cochran said.
The quandary over the budget may continue even after someone has been chosen
to replace Jacobs, as long as two people vote against its adoption.
Filling Jacob’s seat tops the council’s Nov. 14 agenda.
To date, Cochran and Patsy Black have opposed adopting the FY 2007 budget,
because they say the street department needs a boost.
They propose adding $175,000 for streets, which they say the city can
afford.
Councilmen Marty Goss and Keith Crozier oppose the additional expenditure,
because, they say, the streets can be maintained with a slightly smaller
allocation than last year’s $981,412.
Goss and Crozier favor $948,094 for streets.
That would leave adequate funding available for the city to continue its
research into adding a water and wastewater department.
Street superintendent Mike Horton reported at the Oct. 24 council meeting
his department reconstructed 9.2 lane miles in FY 2006, and planned to do
work on nearly 14 lane miles in the coming year.
It was noted streets have suffered badly during the last two years’ drought,
with cracks and deterioration appearing on many roads. The rising cost of
road material was also noted.
During a budget workshop, Horton also expressed the desire for another dump
truck, estimated at $95,000.
However, Horton accepted the $948,094 allocation.
Goss maintains that if adding a water department is proven to be feasible,
the city should move forward on it, so it can control its future
development.
Helpful lake-area Santas
prepare to aid needy during holidays
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
GUN BARREL CITY–It’s that time of year again. The holidays
are on the way, and many local organizations and volunteers are making plans
to aid the needy.
Donations are currently being accepted by the Family Resource Center for
both Thanksgiving and Christmas.
The new FRC building will not be finished by the holidays, so volunteers and
organizations were asked to pitch in.
Approximately 45 people, representing organizations and individuals, showed
up for an organizational meeting Thursday.
Those who were unable to attend may contact the FRC at (903) 887-4711.
Applications from those needing holiday assistance will be accepted
beginning Monday, Nov. 27, through Friday, Dec. 15.
Monitor Photo/Barbara Gartman
A meeting at Brawner Hall Thursday drew approximately 45 people representing
organizations and individuals willing to lend a hand to the Family Resource
Center’s efforts to aid the needy during the upcoming holidays. Pictured are
(from left) James Moore, Family Resource Center director Toni Muirhead,
Debbie Tarno, Tina Maddox, Deann Hillhouse and Winnie Branham.
Lions warn of tele-scammers
Special to the Monitor
CEDAR CREEK LAKE–The Mabank/Cedar Creek Area Lions Club does not solicit
donations by telephone.
Several citizens have reported receiving calls asking for monetary
donations.
“We (the Lions Club) don’t do that, and as far as I know, we never will,”
treasurer Phil Rogers said.
Citizens who receive such calls should treat them as any other scam call –
hang up and call the police.
Living long and loving it
Monitor Photo/Pearl Cantrell
Members of the Living Long and Loving It social club for seniors enjoy a
potluck buffet Thursday at the First Baptist Church of Mabank. They
celebrate one another’s birthdays and anniversaries, share each others
burdens through prayer and enjoy a lot of fun and laughter each second
Thursday. Those marking birthdays in November were Billie Moseley, 85 (front
right), Maxine Davis, 83, and Mildred Killian, 85.
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