12 - Recommend Appointee to SuRRMA BoardItem No. 12
TO: Mayor, Mayor Pro -Tem & City Council
Grayson Path, City Manager
FROM: Janice Ellis, City Clerk
SUBJECT: Recommend an appointment for Sulphur River Regional Mobility Authority
Board.
DATE: January 9, 2023
BACKGROUND: In 2012, the Sulphur River Regional Mobility Authority "SuRRMA" was
formed and included the counties of Delta, Hunt and Lamar. Since that time, Fannin County has
been included in Sulphur River Regional Mobility Authority.
A Regional Mobility Authority is a political subdivision formed by one or more counties or cities
to finance, acquire, design, construct, operate, maintain, expand or extend transportation projects.
Regional Mobility Authorities are true partnerships between the State and its local partners to
meet the transportation needs of tomorrow's Texans.
At the December 12, 2022 City Council meeting, SuRRMA Presiding Officer Jay Hodge gave a
presentation regarding the Sulphur Regional Mobility Authority and reported that long-time
board member Curtis Fendley's to had expired and lie no longer wanted to serve on the board.
Mr. Hodge recommended Council Member Pilgrim be appointed to fill the vacant position. With
the City Attorney's absence due to illness, City Manager Grayson Path said he would like for
Ms. Harris to research this to make certain there was not a conflict for Council Member Pilgrim
to serve on the board. City Council postponed the item until January 9th,
STATUS OF ISSUE: Following the December 12'h City Council meeting, staff members began
researching to determine whether or not it was a conflict for a Council Member to serve on the
board. City Staff obtained a letter from Judge Bell's office dated January 23, 2019 which was
from the former SuRRMA Chairman Delbert Horton. That letter referenced SuRRMA Bylaws,
but the City, the County, nor Mr. Hodge had in their possession a copy of the Bylaws. On
December 14'h SuRRMA Presiding Officer Jay Hodge was able to secure a copy of the
SuRRMA's Bylaws from another source. A copy of the Bylaws were forwarded to City Council
on December 14, 2022.
Pursuant to Section 5(d) of the Bylaws, an elected official is not eligible to serve as a Director
thus a City Council Member would have a conflict in serving on the board. Pursuant to Section
4(D) of the Bylaws, Lamar County appoints two (2) Directors, one specifically representing the
interests of the City of Paris.
Throughout the history of SuRRMA, the SuRRMA presiding officer has made recommendations
as to the appointee and it has been the practice of the City to accept the recommendation of the
Chair, then then forward to Lamar County in the recommendation in the form of a Resolution.
BUDGET: N/A
RECOMMENDATION:
Option 1: Accept a recommendation of SuRRMA Chairman Jay Hodge for an appointee to the
board, and approve a resolution making a recommendation to Lamar County as to who the City
wishes to represent its interests on the SuRRMA Board.
Option 2: City Council make a recommendation for an appointee to the board, and approve a
resolution making a recommendation to Lamar County as to who the City wishes to represent its
interests on the SuRRMA Board.
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS,
RECOMMENDING TO THE LAMAR COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS' COURT FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE SULPHUR RIVER
REGIONAL MOBILITY AUTHORITY BOARD OF DIRECTORS;
DETERMINING THAT THE MEETING AT WHICH THIS RESOLUTION WAS
PASSED COMPLIED WITH THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT; MAKING
OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; AND
PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the Sulphur River Regional Mobility Authority ("SuRRMA") is a regional
mobility authority comprising the Counties of Delta, Fannin, Hunt, and Lamar and authorized
and existing pursuant to Chapter 370 of the Texas Transportation Code and the rules
adopted by the Texas Department of Transportation concerning the operation of regional
mobility authorities, located at 43 Tex. Admin Coe Sec. 26.01, et seq; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Sulphur River Regional Mobility Authority Bylaws, last
revised on February 15, 2018, § 4, "Board Appointments and Terms," the Lamar County
Commissioners' Court shall appoint two (2) Directors, one specifically representing the City
of Paris; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that it is in the best interest of the City of Paris and
SuRRMA to recommend to the Lamar County Commissioners' Court that it appoint
to represent the City of Paris on SuRRMA's Board of Directors;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
PARIS, TEXAS:
Section 1. That the findings set out in the preamble to this resolution are hereby in
all things approved.
Section 2. That the City Council of the City of Paris supports and recommends to
the Lamar County Commissioners' Court that it appoint as a member of
the Board of Directors of the Sulphur River Regional Mobility Authority.
Section 3. That the meeting at which this resolution was approved was conducted
in strict compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code Chapter 551.
Section 4. That this resolution shall be effective from and after its date of passage.
PASSED AND APPROVED this 9th day of January, 2023.
Paula Portugal, Mayor
ATTEST:
Janice Ellis, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Stephanie H. Harris, City Attorney