Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Log Cabin Council Member Bill Sims (from left) and Mayor Jennifer Williams interact with citizens after a July 10 special meeting during which they rescinded their resignations.

Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Log Cabin Mayor Pro Tem Aaron Scott (left) reads a resolution censuring Council Member Teena Linder while Council Member Randy Page looks on July 10.

LOG CABIN–Three resignations were rescinded July 10 within Log Cabin’s elected city government during a special meeting in which another council member was censured for alleged law and policy violations.
A third council member, Larry Sutherland, said he was considering resigning, too, before Mayor Jennifer Williams took back her resignation after citizens voiced their opinions.  Regina Martinez asked the council to not accept Williams’ resignation, which was on the agenda.
“It will leave our city in a state of turmoil, it will leave our citizens in a state of turmoil,” Martinez said.
Not all citizens agreed. “It’s almost like Teena (Linder) came with a solution and you didn’t like it,” Melanie Taylor said.
Before that, Williams had read a statement. “I am devastated to say that a council member has knowingly organized a walking quorum regarding inquiries for a new water/sewer contractor,” the mayor stated. “A walking quorum is a violation of the Texas Open Meetings Act, and if knowingly committed, is punishable as a misdemeanor. The City has been in contact with the City Attorney on this matter.”
Williams said her “integrity and honesty has been questioned by our current water/sewer contractor.” After more narrative on the controversy, Williams said she has been “the most transparent mayor this city has ever had.”
Williams said when the situation was addressed, the council member “stated they were going to continue breaking the law and stirring the pot.”
Later, Williams said, “I have fought so hard to earn the trust of the citizens and the City employees and I will not be part of a council that is going to tear that down.”
Next came the censure of Council Member Teena Linder, according to the agenda. Mayor Pro Tem Aaron Scott said he wrote the censure resolution, which outlined alleged violations of the Texas Government Code as well as the city government’s social media policy along with its ethics code. Scott read that there were “damaging statements on a Facebook group” and that the “vast majority of the posts were utterly untrue.”
Linder, who voted against her own censure resolution, said: “I went to two different criminal attorneys, and they laughed. I am not resigning.”
Retorted Williams: “I am not asking you to, and I never have.”
Two other council members had their resignations in line to be considered on the agenda. Bill Sims said if Williams was staying, he was staying, too. Randy Page referenced an anecdote about the city auditor saying Log Cabin’s finances were the “worst” and that it turned into the best.
“And that’s 100% on Jennifer’s (Mayor Williams’) shoulders,” said Page, who next chided Linder’s alleged actions. “There’s a way to do it, legally,” Page remarked.