Local News (Editorial)

A Bad Idea for Bryan's Council
(Eagle Editorial Board)

From the Bryan-College Station Eagle

Bryan City councilmen are looking to silence some of their more vocal members by increasing the number of councilmen it takes to put something on the council agendas.

It is a bad idea, and council members should reject it outright when they meet to consider it on Tuesday.

At present, any council member can ask the mayor or city manager to put an item on the agenda for the next meeting. It is up to the mayor to decide whether to actually add that item to the list for council consideration.

If the mayor decides not to, two council members can override the decision by asking the city manager to include the item. With six council members other than the mayor, that means it only takes one-third of the council to force the inclusion of an item.

Under a proposed ordinance amendment, it would take three council members to override a mayor's veto. The change seems to be a clumsy attempt to keep a particular council member who often deviates from the scripted city line from continuing to be a bother to his fellow council members.

Tough. Every council member -- including the mayor -- is elected to serve the people of Bryan. As difficult as they can be at times, none of them deserves to be marginalized -- nor do their constituents.

Frankly, we don't understand why it should take more than one council member to add anything to the agenda. Council members can choose to approve or reject any agenda item. Simply because an item is on the agenda doesn't guarantee its success. But at least it will be discussed.

The idea that the concerns of some council members are less important than the concerns of others is abhorrent.

The Bryan council should reject the proposed amendment to the city's charter

Published Sunday, July 27, 2008