Another division on the Bryan city council involves a proposal to have city staff attending and recording community meetings where councilmembers are participating.
The idea, submitted by Ben Hardeman and Buppy Simank, was “direct the City Manager to designate a City staff member(s) to attend all “town hall” meetings, neighborhood association meetings, and other announced community meetings at which a councilmember is in attendance, participating in an official capacity, and/or addressing any issues that may come before the City Council. The staff member will be expected to make an audio recording of the meeting and provide minutes or highlights to the Council and appropriate staff identifying any significant comments or discussions that may require follow-up communication.”
Hardeman said he wanted to bring more transparency to the council and not be a retaliatory measure.
Mayor Jason Bienski agreed with Hardeman.
Rafael Pena, who with Mike Southerland and Al Saenz hosts town hall meetings, said he would defy the measure if it ever passed. Pena said he’s “not going to create an atmosphere that discourages the citizens of my district to come to the town hall meetings that was set up so that they could vent”.
Southerland compared it to “someone spying on us or we’re being supervised by someone of lesser rank.”
The council on a 5-2 vote decided to delay final action until the council’s second meeting next month. The motion, made by Simank, was supported by Pena, Southerland, Saenz, and Greg Owens. Hardeman and Bienski voted against the postponement.
