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Bandera City Council Members Glenn Clark, Tom McEachin, Lynn Palmer, Rebeca Gibson, Brice Cavanaugh and Mayor Suzanne Schauman discuss EDC board appointments.
Photo by Jessica Goode
May 26, 2019
City council fills two of three vacant EDC seats
By Jessica Goode
The Bandera Prophet
Bandera City Council members approved two applicants on Thursday to become members of the Economic Development Council. The third available seat remains open while council members deliberate the remaining five candidates.
Art Crawford told council members during their regular meeting that the EDC board reviewed the seven applications and recommended they appoint Laura Davenport, Toni Kunz and Sid Gibson.
Bypassing the EDC’s recommendation, Council Member Lynn Palmer moved to appoint Shane Brown, however her motion died for lack of a second. Council Member Glenn Clark’s motion to approve Kunz passed, with Palmer opposed. Council Member Tom McEachin’s motion to reappoint Devenport, whose term expired May 31, also carried, with Palmer opposed.
Clark moved to appoint Rhonda Carrell for the remaining third seat, and was seconded by Palmer.
“I know Mr. Gibson and I know he would do a good job,” Clark said. “I just thought we could have some fresh blood in the mix.”
Reading aloud an email she said she received after reaching out to all applicants, Council Member Rebeca Gibson said Carrell indicated she felt there were more qualified people in the running. Mayor Suzanne Schauman speculated Carrell may have been discouraged that the EDC did not recommend her.
“If we appoint her and she declines the appointment, we can move on to another applicant,” Schauman said. “Or, we can appoint two tonight and come back for a third.”
Asking to hear more about the EDC’s rationale behind their recommendations, Gibson asked Crawford if he could expound on their decision. McEachin, who also sits on the EDC board, said members were trying to balance experience with a fresh perspective.
“Part of the factor was the overall mix of the board,” McEachin said.
He said losing veteran members Cindy Beckham and Patricia Moore left a vacancy that Davenport could help fill. He said the board leaned toward Gibson because of his experience, as well.
“Rhonda would bring some new blood to the board,” McEachin said. “They’re both excellent choices.”
Gibson moved that the third appointment be postponed, and encouraged other council members to reach out to the other applicants and get more information.
Rilla Stephens, speaking out during the public forum, asked council to take the time to consider all of the applicants.
“The city has lamented the fact that we could not get enough people to come forward and put in applications for different committees,” Stephens said. “I hope that you will think very carefully about what you do and look at some of the people who have come forward.”
Art Crawford told council members during their regular meeting that the EDC board reviewed the seven applications and recommended they appoint Laura Davenport, Toni Kunz and Sid Gibson.
Bypassing the EDC’s recommendation, Council Member Lynn Palmer moved to appoint Shane Brown, however her motion died for lack of a second. Council Member Glenn Clark’s motion to approve Kunz passed, with Palmer opposed. Council Member Tom McEachin’s motion to reappoint Devenport, whose term expired May 31, also carried, with Palmer opposed.
Clark moved to appoint Rhonda Carrell for the remaining third seat, and was seconded by Palmer.
“I know Mr. Gibson and I know he would do a good job,” Clark said. “I just thought we could have some fresh blood in the mix.”
Reading aloud an email she said she received after reaching out to all applicants, Council Member Rebeca Gibson said Carrell indicated she felt there were more qualified people in the running. Mayor Suzanne Schauman speculated Carrell may have been discouraged that the EDC did not recommend her.
“If we appoint her and she declines the appointment, we can move on to another applicant,” Schauman said. “Or, we can appoint two tonight and come back for a third.”
Asking to hear more about the EDC’s rationale behind their recommendations, Gibson asked Crawford if he could expound on their decision. McEachin, who also sits on the EDC board, said members were trying to balance experience with a fresh perspective.
“Part of the factor was the overall mix of the board,” McEachin said.
He said losing veteran members Cindy Beckham and Patricia Moore left a vacancy that Davenport could help fill. He said the board leaned toward Gibson because of his experience, as well.
“Rhonda would bring some new blood to the board,” McEachin said. “They’re both excellent choices.”
Gibson moved that the third appointment be postponed, and encouraged other council members to reach out to the other applicants and get more information.
Rilla Stephens, speaking out during the public forum, asked council to take the time to consider all of the applicants.
“The city has lamented the fact that we could not get enough people to come forward and put in applications for different committees,” Stephens said. “I hope that you will think very carefully about what you do and look at some of the people who have come forward.”