October 29, 2016
An Editorial by Nelson Thibodeaux, Editorial LNO
You know folks, I have lost count of those who say about Washington DC…”We need Term Limits!” And of course the New York Times,wanna be Star Telegram that advised folks to vote against Term Limits,…give me a break!
Note: 5 out of 7 Council Members voted to put Term Limits on the Ballot ONLY Mike Taylor and Jody Short were in Opposition.
Which means all of the NEWLY ELECTED MEMBERS voted to Limit the OWN Terms, only long term incumbents opposed.
1. TERM LIMITS
The fact is we need term limits on a universal scale in the US and you have the OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE YOUR VOICE HEARD LOCALLY.
Emails that have be rooted out from organizations and, it appears the City of Colleyville, BEFORE the current Majority was elected; continue to be sent as SPAM to numerous Colleyville emails.
The nay sayers against this amendment point out that the Voters can Impose Term Limits during routine election cycles. Of course what they don’t reveal is that incumbency, in of itself, is a detriment to get new people to participate in the system. Why? Because of the signficant advantages, ethical and unethical, available to incumbents. No way that would happen in Colleyville? How about the businesses that were threatened in the past May Election. Or businesses, that displayed certain political signs were told they would not get any more business from the City!
It is a simple proposition ..two – 3 year terms on either the Council of Mayor’s position is the term limit. One can lay out for one 3 year term thereafter, then run again.
Of course the long term incumbents HATE this idea, although it seems perfectly reasonable to others. In fact, you can run for council for two 3 Year Terms and then Mayor for Two more 3 Year terms or a total of 12 Years.
At this point there is NO limitation to terms. Vote FOR on 1.
.The following is the language that will appear on the November ballot in 5 Propositions;
Proposition No. 1
Amend the Colleyville City Charter by adding Section 3.01A, Limitations on Terms to provide that no person shall serve as Mayor for more than two (2) consecutive elected terms, and no person shall serve as a Council Member for more than two (2) consecutive elected terms. Under no circumstances may any person ever serve for more than twelve (12) consecutive years in combination as a Council Member or Mayor. The amendment shall be effective, at the next municipal election, shall apply to all persons currently occupying the Office of Mayor or Council Member, and shall apply to all municipal elections conducted after the date of adoption; provided however that this amendment will not cause a Council Members’ current term to be terminated prior to the completion of their elected term.
___X___ FOR
_______ AGAINST
2.) Electronic Voting
The misinformers would lead you to believe this type of voting is secret and not recorded. NOTHING could be further from the TRUTH. In fact, all votes are recorded regardless. However, the purpose behind this proposal is to include electronic voting from the Dias so EVERYONE VOTES THEIR CONSCIENCE. Those who have in the past waited to see what their Exalted Leader’s vote would be, will have to make Independent Decisions SIMILTANEOUSLY! WHAT COULD BE WRONG WITH THAT? VOTE FOR ON 2
Proposition No. 2
Amend Section 3.09(c) to allow for electronic voting by City Council and to provide that voting on nominations to City Boards, Committees, and Commissions do not require a roll call vote.
___X___ FOR
_______ AGAINST
3.) Oversight by City Council on Senior Hires.
The misinformers would lead you to beleive this somehow limits the City Manager Style of Government in Colleyville by somehow hampering the City Manager’s options. First the City Manager WORKS FOR THE CITY COUNCIL, not the other way around. This is simply an check and balance system that allows the Elected Officials to approve or not approve individuals for these important positions, as it should be!
VOTE FOR ON 3
Proposition No. 3
Change Section 7.02 to provide that the appointment of the City Secretary will require the approval of the City Council, for an indefinite term. Change Section 7.03 to provide that the appointment of the Police Chief will require the approval of the City Council. Change Section 7.04(A) to provide that the appointment of the Fire Chief will require the approval of the City Council. Change Section 7.05 to provide that the appointment of the Director of Public Works will require the approval of the City Council. Section 7.06 which provides that there shall be a Department of Finance headed by the City Manager or his appointee by adding the words with the approval of the City Council, for an indefinite term.
__X__ FOR
_______ AGAINST
4.) Cleaning up the Charter
Simply housekeeping to drop the language out that was inserted during the transition period of going from 5 council seats to 7.
Vote FOR on 4
Proposition No. 4
To eliminate and delete Article XIII which provided for transitional matters after the 2005 Charter amendments.
___X_ FOR
_______ AGAINST
5.) A Whitewash Versus Full Disclosure
You may recall a Complaint that this Editor filed last year seeking open information on how the City Manager acquired more than $1 million in real estate in the City that she manages, Colleyville. Next came insults from Colleyville’s Best Known Political Hack, Councilman Mike Taylor,
calling the request silly and poorly written. Then came the majority of the then seated Council members desired faux examination and, then of course total vindication for the City Manager, Mayor Et. Al.
This propostion simply requires the Council Member, The Planning and Zoning Members and ALL Senior City staff to submit statements concerning financials and potential “conflicts of interest.”
Remember when the High Density Comprehensive Plan was slammed through under the previous Mayor? There were a lot of questions concerning the integrity of all the players. Now there should not be guess work or inuedoes against those who have integrity. Just make full fiancial disclosure and any conflicts. Citizens deserve this much from it’s highest paid City Employees and Representatives.
Vote FOR on 5
Proposition No. 5
To amend Section 14.02 “Personal Financial Interest” by adding the underlined words shown below:
(F) Citizen Complaints. Any citizen of the City may file with the City Secretary a statement of suspected conflict of interest. Such statement of suspected conflict of interest shall be filed within fifteen (15) days of the decision, or vote, or if another event giving rise to an asserted violation of paragraph C above, within fifteen (15) days of when the citizen knew or reasonably should have known of the asserted violation, and shall describe the complained of conflict in reasonable detail. The City Council, or its designee, shall respond in writing to a timely filed statement of suspected conflict of interest, and the statement of suspected conflict of interest and response of the City Council shall be maintained in the public records of the City.
To amend Section 14.02 “Personal Financial Interest” by adding subsection (K) as set forth below:
(K) Financial Disclosure and Business Conflict of Interest Forms shall be provided by candidates for Mayor and City Council and by applicants seeking appointments to the Planning and Zoning Commission or the Zoning Board of Adjustment, and shall file such forms within two (2) business days following the end of the candidate filing period, or if for appointment, within two (2) business days following the end of the application period stated in the official City advertisement for application for the position. The City Manager and the City Manager’s senior staff members (including any staff member who is appointed with City Council approval) shall also file the same within thirty (30) days of hiring. All person(s), as outlined above, shall have a duty to file supplemental disclosures annually and within five (5) business days of an occurrence of any change in the information reflected in the forms previously filed by the individual. These forms shall include the following information:
(i) The location, size, and current use of all property owned within the portion of Dallas, Denton and Tarrant County north of Interstate 30 and east of Interstate 35W, and that portion of Denton County south of State Highway 114 and east of Interstate 35W, or held in trust by the person(s), as outlined above, their spouse, and any dependent minor children, or any business entity in which the person has a financial interest.
(ii) The name and address of any person or corporation which currently has or during the preceding twelve (12) months has had a contractual relationship with the City and from which the person(s), as outlined above, their spouse, or dependent minor children have received a fee, salary, or gift of value exceeding one hundred dollars ($100.00).
(iii) The name and address of any corporation or business, which currently has or in the preceding twelve (12) months has had a contractual relationship with the City, of which the person(s), as outlined above, their spouse, or any dependent minor children own more than two percent (2%) of the outstanding equity interest or more than two percent (2%) of the assets.
To amend Section 14.02 “Personal Financial Interest” by adding subsection (L) as set forth below:
(L) The disclosure reporting obligations required by Section 14.02(K) apply to all of the relationships listed in this Section 14.02
__X__ FOR
_______ AGAINST
