By CHARLES RICHARDS
EParisExtra!
The Paris City Council will go into executive session today to discuss whether the council has veto power over the Paris Economic Development Corporation’s operations.
The council meets at 5:30 p.m. at the city council chambers at 107 E. Kaufman St.
Mayor AJ Hashmi said Sunday that city attorney Kent McIlyar wants to talk to the council about whether the PEDC should be required to get the council’s approval on deals it is negotiating with economic development prospects.
city attorney Kent McIlyar
“There is an interpreation on the part of the city attorney and an interpretation on the part of the PEDC,” Hashmi said.
“The PEDC has something written in its charter or whatever that money would be spent at the discretion of the PEDC, in accordance with state law,” Hashmi said.
McIlyer makes the point that under the Development Corporation Act of Texas, economic development corporations are subject to governance by the governing body — in this case is the Paris City Council.
“The PEDC position is ’We’ve always done it this way before, so we should not be asked to come to the city council to ask their permission.’ I have the feeling that the council is not going to want to give them a free rein,” the mayor said.
“Maybe the compromise would be that up to $300,000 or $500,000, you don’t have to come to the council for permission. But beyond that, you do need to come to the council for permission,” Hashmi added.
Also, the council will:
Continue its discussions on the city manager’s proposed budget for the 2012-2013 fiscal year that begins Oct. 1.
Discuss and act on a resolution approving and authorizing a tax abatement agreement with Campbell Soup.
Discuss and act on a resolution rescinding a contract awarded earlier in the year to Classic Protective Coatings for the painting of the east water tower in Paris, and award the contract to MK Painting.
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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.
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