By CHARLES RICHARDS
eParisExtra!
Matt Frierson
Paris city councilman Matt Frierson was named the council’s liaison to the Paris Economic Development Corporation on Monday night.
He replaces John Wright, who was the liaison for 2011-2012.
In all, committee liaisons were chosen for 13 committees. Their role is primarily as an observer so they can provide background to the council when a committee issue comes before the council.
The appointments are the mayor’s to make, but Mayor AJ Hashmi asked for each council member to volunteer for committee berths that he or she desired.
The process resulted in the following liaison appointments:
ArkTex Council of Governments — Mayor AJ Hashmi, Dr. Richard Grossnickle and Cleonne Drake.
Visitors and Convention Center – Sue Lancaster
PEDC—Matt Frierson
Airport Advisory Board – Dr. Richard Grossnickle
Paris/Lamar County Health Board – Dr. AJ Hashmi
Band Committee – Cleonne Drake
Historic Preservation Commission – Matt Frierson
Buildings & Standards Commission – John Wright and Sue Lancaster
Library – Dr. Richard Grossnickle
Traffic Committee – Aaron Jenkins
Zoning Board of Adjustment – Sue Lancaster
Main Street Advisory Board – Cleonne Drake
Planning & Zoning – Sue Lancaster
Charles Richards Charles Richards moved to Paris in 2004 after retiring from a 40-year career in journalism – the last 26 years as a news writer and sports writer with The Associated Press in Dallas and Washington, D.C. In mid-2004, The Paris News coaxed him out of retirement, and he began covering the police, court and regional beat for The Paris News. Then in early 2005, he was switched to coverage of a sharply divided Paris City Council. He was appointed by the City Council in 2006 to the 12-member City Charter Review Commission, which extensively rewrote the outmoded document. His writing awards include two first-place awards in statewide competition for feature writing. The most recent was his 2005 story on a Paris doctor’s startling use of leeches in a successful attempt to re-attach a man’s severed ear. Over his career, Richards’ interview subjects include Alabama Gov. George Wallace, President Bill Clinton, President George W. Bush, David Koresh, Arnold Palmer, Muhammad Ali and numerous other political and sports figures. He is an alumnus of Texas Tech, where he was editor of the school newspaper. He lives in Paris with his wife, Barbara, who is retired after 30 years as a teacher and high school counselor.
follow: RSS
