10 - Updated Policies & Procedures for Boards & CommissionsNo. 10
TO: Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem & City Council
FROM: Grayson Path, City Manager
Stephanie Harris, City Attorney
Janice Ellis, City Clerk
SUBJECT: Updated Policies and Procedures for Boards and Commissions
DATE: May 23, 2022
BACKGROUND:
On May 9, 2022, the City Council reviewed an updated Policies and Procedures for Boards and
Commissions. The City Council was approving of the document as drafted, except a request was
made to allow for excused absences not to count against the attendance requirements.
STATUS OF ISSUE:
The following language has been added to Qualifications, Section 1.d:
"Attendance at a minimum of 75 percent of all regular meetings beginning July 1 of each year and
ending June 30 of the subsequent year. unless otherwise excused by the remaining members of the
Board or Commission."
This language mirrors that which is being considered as an edit for the City Council's attendance
language in the Charter.
BUDGET:
N/A
OPTIONS:
1. Authorize the Resolution approving the new Policies and Procedures as amended.
2. Request additional edits and/or reject the policy,
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Authorize the Resolution approving the new Policies and Procedures as amended.
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS,
TEXAS REPEALING THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR BOARDS
AND COMMISSIONS; APPROVING NEW POLICIES AND
PROCEDURES FOR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS; MAKING OTHER
FINDINGS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT AND DECLARING AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, in 2008, the City Council adopted Policies and Procedures for City
Boards, Commissions, and Committees ("Policies") which it subsequently revised in
2010 and 2017; and
WHEREAS, the city would be best served by repealing the existing Policies and
replacing same with new policies that better reflect current circumstances;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF PARIS, TEXAS, THAT:
Section 1. The findings set out in the preamble to this resolution are hereby
in all things approved.
Section 2. That the City Council hereby repeals the Policies and Procedures
for Boards and Commissions last revised in 2017 and hereby adopts the Policies and
Procedures (revised 05/2022) attached hereto as Exhibit A and incorporated herein
by reference.
Section 3. This resolution shall become effective from and after the date of
passage.
PASSED AND APPROVED this 23rd day of May, 2022.
Paula Portugal, Mayor
ATTEST:
Janice Ellis, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Stephanie H. Harris, City Attorney
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR
BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
MEMBERSHIP
1. The following Boards and Commissions shall have seven (7) members:
a. Planning and Zoning Commission
b. Library Advisory Board
c. Main Street Advisory Board
d. Traffic Commission
2. The following Boards and Commissions have separate governing documents that
set membership, qualifications, selection process, criteria, etc. For details, please
reference the following documents:
a. Paris Economic Development Corporation
b. Civil Service Commission
c. Zoning Board of Adjustment
d. Band Commission
e. Airport Advisory Board
f. Paris Housing Authority
g. Historic Preservation Commission
h. Buildings and Standards Commission
Resolution 2020-040
Texas LGC Chapter 143
City of Paris Ch. 9, Exhibit B,
Section 16
City of Paris Ch. 2, Art. 2.11
Resolution 2022-016
Texas LGC Chapter 392
City of Paris Ch. 9, Art, 9.05
City of Paris Ch. 4, Sec.
4.03.004
3. Except as otherwise stated in a separate applicable governing document, all
members appointed shall serve "at -will" by the City Council.
4. Boards and Commissions may include at least one (1) City Council Member liaison
appointed by a majority vote of the City Council, except for the Paris Housing
Authority (Reference: Texas Attorney General Opinion KP -006).
5. Boards and Commissions may include at least one (1) City Staff liaison appointed
by the City Manager.
QUALIFICATIONS
1. Except as otherwise stated in a separate applicable governing document,
qualifications for appointment and service on a City Board and Commission shall
include:
a. No delinquent indebtedness to the city.
b. No family relationship within the second degree by affinity (marriage) or
within the third degree by consanguinity (blood) to any member of the city
council or to the city manager.
c. No conflict between the appointee's private interests and duties and their
interests and duties as a committee member.
d. Attendance at a minimum of 75 percent of all regular meetings beginning
July 1 of each year and ending June 30 of the subsequent year, unless
otherwise excused by the remaining members of the Board or Commission.
City of Paris Board and Commission Policies Revised 05/23//2022
2. Appointees shall take an oath of office prescribed by the City Council prior to
taking office.
3. Except as otherwise stated in a separate applicable governing document, all
applicants and appointees must be qualified voters of the City of Paris, or of Lamar
County if the Board or Commission membership allows for residents in the county.
Any other qualifications mandated by State law shall apply.
APPOINTMENT
1. Appointments shall be made at the second regular city council meeting in June or
as soon thereafter as practical, unless necessary to fill a vacancy.
2. Applications shall be made available to persons interested in serving on a Board or
Commission. City staff shall post notice and advertise Board and Commission
vacancies. The City Clerk or his or her designee shall collect and review each
application for completeness and eligibility.
3. The City Council shall select from the entire slate of eligible nominees.
TERMS
Except as otherwise stated in a separate applicable governing document, the following shall
govern appointment terms.
1. Each appointment shall be for three -years with appointees limited to a maximum
of two (2) consecutive full three (3) year terms on the same Board or Commission.
2. If an appointee has prior consecutive service as the result of filling a vacancy, or
service on another Board or Commission, prior service shall not be included in the
count.
3. Appointees shall be limited to service on no more than one standing Board or
Commission. Appointees are not prohibited from serving on additional ad hoc
committees or standing boards, commissions, or committees that are purely
advisory.
4. Appointees to vacant positions will serve the remainder of their predecessors'
unexpired term.
REMOVAL
Except as otherwise stated in a separate applicable governing document, members may be
removed by an affirmative majority vote of a quorum of the City Council.
OFFICERS
Except as otherwise stated in a separate applicable governing document, the following shall
apply for the selection of officers.
1. Officers of each Board and Commission shall include a Chair and Vice -chair.
City of Paris Board and Commission Policies Revised 05/23//2022
2. The duties of the chair include calling and presiding over meetings of the Board or
Commission
3. The duties of the Vice -Chair shall be to serve as Chair in the absence or disability
of the Chair.
4. Officers shall be elected by the membership of the body at their first meeting after
the City Council appointment of Board and Commission members.
5. The term of office for officers shall be from July 1St of each year and ending June
30t" of the subsequent year.
6. No officer shall serve more than two full consecutive terms in a single position.
7. Officers may be removed from their office, but not from the Board or Commission,
by a simple affirmative majority vote of a quorum of the Board or Commission.
MEETINGS
Except as otherwise stated in a separate applicable governing document, the following shall
govern meetings of the Boards and Commissions.
Each Board and Commission shall meet at least quarterly, and more frequently as
the Board or Commission shall deem necessary, and at a time and location
determined by the Board or Commission.
The staff liaison shall have authority to call a meeting of the Board or Commission.
Meetings shall be posted at the City Hall Annex Building, and on the City's
website, and the newspaper of record shall be sent notice of the meeting at the time
of posting.
TRAINING
1. Appointments to all Boards and Commission are contingent upon attending a
workshop covering Ethics, the Public Information Act, and the Open Meetings Act,
which must all be completed within 90 days of taking the oath of office. Failure to
complete such training within the designated time period may result in removal.
2. The City Manager or his or her designee shall conduct a training workshop on
Board and Commission duties and responsibilities, after appointments are made or
as soon thereafter as practical.
3. Appointees shall be required, at the City's expense, to complete any additional
training(s) required by any governing statutes, regulations, ordinances, or
resolutions.
City of Paris Board and Commission Policies Revised 05/23//2022