Bastrop City Council Passes Resolution of Apology, Addressing Political Divisions and Public Distrust

In a heated meeting, the Bastrop City Council addressed political divisions and the erosion of public trust. A 4-1 vote approved a resolution apologizing to Sheila Lowe, chair of the Bridging Bastrop Board, for remarks made by Council Member Cheryl Lee. The body also discussed changing its procedural rules, reflecting a critical eye on transparency and accountability.

The apology resolution, sponsored by Council Members Cynthia Meyer and Kevin Plunkett, addressed Lee's remarks at a previous meeting, which criticized the work of the Bridging Bastrop Board (formerly the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Board). Lowe found the comments offensive, feeling they downplayed the board's efforts and efficiency. Meyer affirmed the harm caused, stating, “She (Lowe) felt personally attacked...She expected something to be done."

The meeting also witnessed disputes over the council's support for its boards and commissions, with Mayor Lyle Nelson questioning the resolution's assertion. He cited the council's recent actions, including a supermajority requirement for the Charter Review Commission and the removal of Planning & Zoning commissioners. Plunkett defended the supermajority, ensuring that narrow recommendations wouldn't be included in charter revisions.

Transparency and Quorum Disputes

Council Member Kerry Fossler proposed lowering the council's quorum from four to three to prevent potential voting blocks and closed-door discussions. Fossler stated, "The people's business needs to stay in front of the people...I have been disturbed that we are having to talk about open government and transparency in 2024." Residents were divided on the proposal, with some criticizing it as unnecessary and a waste of time, while others supported increased transparency. Charter Review Commissioner Alex Henley revealed rumors of council members meeting privately, urging a rule change to align with transparency intentions. The vote on rule changes was delayed until August 13, due to administrative errors.

Original article:
https://www.bastropdailyenterprise.com/news/local_news/city-council-passes-apology-resolution-addresses-political- divisions-and-distrust/article_6df4a6e6-dc82-11ec-b838-cf7e5c77f9eb.html

URL to original article in Bastrop Daily Enterprise:

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