Bastrop City Council passes resolution apologizing for member's remarks

In a meeting filled with heated debate and concerned residents, political divisions and public distrust became apparent on Tuesday among members of the Bastrop City Council as the body discussed changes to its procedural rules and passed a resolution apologizing for remarks made by Council Member Cheryl Lee at a previous meeting.

The resolution, approved on a 4-1 vote with Lee voting against, apologizes to Sheila Lowe, the chair of the Bridging Bastrop Board, on behalf of the entire council. The City Council changed the name of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Board to Bridging Bastrop in a 4-1 vote on July 9 after the board unanimously voted to recommend the change.

At that meeting, Lee expressed concerns that the name change could distract from the board’s purpose and mission. However, Lee’s speech also criticized the work of the Bridging Bastrop board in numerous areas, including its efficiency and its work to understand the city’s compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

In response, Lowe on July 9 said she “respected” Lee’s comments, but she also found it slightly “offensive” that Lee’s remarks seemed to downplay the board’s work.

Council members Cynthia Meyer and Kevin Plunkett sponsored the apology resolution to make up for the offense Lowe took at the council’s prior meeting. Mayor Lyle Nelson questioned whether Lee’s comments could be considered offensive.

“(Lowe) wrote us a letter the next day explaining how embarrassing it was for her,” Meyer said in response to the mayor. “She felt personally attacked. She’s a volunteer. She expected something to be done. I would say that was pretty harmful to Ms. Lowe’s reputation.”

Nelson also questioned a sentence in the resolution that said the council “supports the work” of each of its boards, committees and commissions. He brought up the 75% supermajority that the City Council placed on the Charter Review Commission to recommend charter amendments to the council and the recent removal of two Planning & Zoning commissioners.

Plunkett said this would prevent recommendations with narrow majorities from being included in the charter revisions, which, according to state law, can only happen every two years.

Council hears concerns on its new rules

The City Council also discussed its annual update to the rules and procedures its members follow. Council Member Kerry Fossler proposed lowering the council’s quorum, or the number of members necessary to hold a meeting, from four to three. She said she proposed the change to prevent three or more council members from discussing city business behind closed doors, possibly forming voting blocks.

“The people’s business needs to stay in front of the people,” Fossler said. “I have been disturbed that we are having to talk about open government and transparency in 2024. … This is the perfect invitation for us to say loud and clear how much we value transparency, but are we going to say it?”

Resident Cheryl Long said Fossler distributed letters earlier in the week that accused three council members of being “dishonest.” She added that the letter seemed like “a last-minute distraction.”

“It seems that (Fossler) wants to change our quorum and meeting agenda for no reason or need,” Long said. “It is obvious that she is wasting time and taxpayers’ money on a change that is not necessary.”

However, numerous other residents spoke at the meeting in favor of lowering the quorum or making a rule that council members can’t discuss city business in groups outside of public meetings. City Attorney Alan Bojorquez said the council previously kept a gentlemen’s agreement to not discuss city business privately.

“The letter of the law is what we’re suggesting that we change to be more in step with what the intent is meant to be,” Charter Review Commissioner Alex Henley said, adding that he’s heard rumors of a group of council members meeting behind closed doors.

The City Council was prepared to approve the rules on Tuesday but ultimately tabled the item because city staff didn’t make a clean copy of the changes to the rules before the council meeting. The council will vote on its rule changes on Aug. 13.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Bastrop City Council passes resolution apologizing for member's remarks