05 - COUNCIL MINUTES FROM JULY 11, 2016 MEETING

Home Browse Search

Regular Council Meeting July 11, 2016 Page 6 process in setting an amount. Council Member Frierson said he did not want to hinder the ability of Mr. Paris of bringing businesses to town, and that he hoped there is somewhere in between that everyone could feel comfortable. Council Member Trenado said he wanted everyone to work together and wanted the Council to be kept informed by Mr. Paris. Council Member Frierson said it might be a good ideal that the council liaisons give an update on the committees they serve. Council Member Clifford said as City Council and as elected officials, it was their duty and their responsibility to make sure tax dollars were spent wisely. He said they could not allocate their responsibility and that it was imperative they maintain control over the PEDC. Council Member Clifford also said it was obvious that the bylaws need to be changed to reflect at least the intent of State Law and to ensure the tax dollars were spent wisely. Council Member Jenkins said he wanted to make sure what they do is right for Paris. Council Member Lancaster said two things jumped out at her and of course, one was to follow the law and as a Council, they had to follow the law. Secondly, Council Member Lancaster said you cannot be too diligent on tax payer money and that the PEDC budget vas approved and the Council was not micromanaging PEDC's phone bills and expenses like that. Mayor Hashmi said the $400,000 limit was put in place when Skinner was coming in and PEDC had made a guarantee about 1.2 million dollars. He said the Council got involved, that PEDC rescinded that and Liberty took the guarantee. Mayor Hashmi said if State Law required Council to approve all expenditures, they should follow the State Law. He said if it was not required, `Council should make rules that they are comfortable with. Mayor Hashmi said if it was an urgent matter, they could meet. He said he thought it was important that the two entities work together. Mayor Hashmi said he would like guidance whether or not it is State Law that they have to approve all expenditures. Ms. Harris said what she found in the last few days is there was no interpretation about what that statute says about the degree of control. Mayor Hashmi inquired if Council could make their own rules and Ms. Harris answered in the affirmative. She said if they want to change the bylaws they need to have a document in front of them that they can vote on by resolution and they would need at least five votes to make changes. Council Member Frierson inquired about getting input from the PEDC Board. Council Member Trenado inquired if it was State Law. Ms. Harris said there had not been a court case or an attorney general opinion that interprets it. She also said she had talked to Jeff Moore, who wrote the handbook and she had talked to a TML lawyer and they believe what they are doing is within the State Law. She said if they want to change the Bylaws, they need a document with revisions they can vote on. Council Member Trenado said they could leave them as they were. Following additional discussion, A Motion to continue with the current Bylaws was made by Council Member Trenado and seconded by Council Member Frierson. Mayor Hashmi called for a vote on those in favor of leaving the bylaws the same. Council Members Trenado, Frierson, Jenkins, Drake, and Mayor Hashmi voted in favor of keeping the bylaws the same. Motion carried - 5 ayes.