22 - Appoint PEDC's nominee Paula Portugal to serve on the PEDC BoardItem No. 22
memorandum
TO: City Council
Grayson Path, City Manager
FROM: Stephanie H. Harris, City Attorney
SUBJECT: Appointment of Paula Portugal to serve a 1 year term on the Board of Directors of the
Paris Economic Development Corporation (subject to Council's action on agenda item relating to
amendments to the PEDC Bylaws).
DATE: July 22, 2020
BACKGROUND: On June 22, 2020, the City Council approved several changes to the Bylaws of
the PEDC including amendments set forth in the following motion as indicated by the Minutes:
"A Motion to increase the number of directors from five to seven members, and one of those
members being a sitting Council Member who will be selected by the PEDC for a term of one year
was made by Council Member Hughes and Seconded by Council Member Knox." The Motion
carried by the 5 votes required by the PEDC's bylaws in Section 10.4. I had symptoms of COVID-
19 and was tested on that day, so I was not present at the meeting. Because Texas Local
Government Code Sec. 504.051(b), provides that "a director is appointed by the governing body
of the authorizing municipality...," the Council cannot delegate that authority to the Board of
Directors; however, there is no prohibition against providing that the Board of Directors nominate
a member subject to council approval. There is a separate item on this agenda regarding adopting
an amendment to the bylaws which would provide for this.
STATUS OF ISSUE: The Board nominated Council Member Portugal to fill the one year term
at its meeting on July 21 st.
This item may be rendered moot by Council's action on the item regarding the amendments
to the PEDC's Bylaws.
BUDGET: N/A
RECOMMENDATION: Appoint Council Member Paula Portugal to serve a one year term on the
PEDC Board of Directors.