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Regular Council Meeting June 22, 2020 Page 4 A Motion to approve this item was made by Council Member Pilgrim and seconded by Council Member Portugal. Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays. 15. Discuss and possibly act on removal of Director or Directors from the Paris Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors. A Motion to remove this item from the table was made by Mayor Clifford and seconded by Council Member Hughes. Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays. Council Member Pilgrim said a few concerned business leaders in town contacted him over an issue that had developed from a PEDC meeting two days prior; citing the PEDC chair had dropped the ball by not timely contacting a local business to explain what had been done in the executive session meeting. Council Member Clayton said in order to mend the relationship with the company, that he, Chairman Hernandez, Mihir Pankaj, Council Member Portugal and City Manager Grayson Path met with the company executives on a Zoom call to apologize for the negligence, and the relationship was mended. Council Member Pilgrim expressed concern about a problem he felt needed to be brought forward. He said he learned that a single PEDC board member, Dr. A.J. Hashmi, had initially reached out to a local manager of the company and offered a helping hand during an economic downturn, without the company's request. Council Member Pilgrim said this company was financially stable, solvent, and was well prepared to weather an economic downturn. Council Member Pilgrim went on to say that, Dr. Hashmi got PEDC Chairman Tim Hernandez and Mayor Clifford to join him on a call with the corporate headquarters to offer PEDC assistance. He said to his knowledge, Mayor Clifford and Tim Hernandez had no knowledge of the initial phone call. In summary, Council Member Pilgrim said it was clear that Dr. Hashmi acted without authority and did not disclose all of his prior actions to the board, and that he was going to call for Dr. Hashmi to resign. Council Member Pilgrim referenced "Article 9 of the Code of Ethics and Conduct for City Council, Employees, Boards, Commissions and Committees from the 2011-025 Ordinance. Based on violations of policies, Council Member Pilgrim said he had asked Dr. Hashmi to step down to retain good faith in the PEDC, the company, and the City. He said Dr. Hashmi was not receptive to his suggestion. In closing, Council Member Pilgrim said as council members, board members, and city representatives, they must have a fiduciary responsibility to the community and call out wrongdoing, no matter how bad it hurt. Council Member Stone stated that due to lack of communication within the PEDC and the Council Members and the many discrepancies in the events that took place, she in good faith could not vote to remove a member from the PEDC. Council Member Hughes said he believes that Dr. Hashmi tries to do what is best for the City. He went on to explain the series of events from his perspective, and said that if the three people who were on the call agree that no laws were violated, he would take their word. Council Member Knox stated that she fell back on the PEDC meeting where this issue was first discussed, and it was voted that nothing inappropriate took place so she would honor their opinion and agree with them.