In what has become a test of wills between lame-duck Mayor Pat Ahumada and the board of the Brownsville Housing Authority, the board again cancelled their Monday meeting to prevent the sitting of the Ahumada (majority) appointed by the mayor before his final day in office Tuesday.
In a notice posted at the BHA central office on Boca Chica Blvd. Friday afternoon Be
atrice Lopez, in her capacity as chairperson, gave public notice that the meeting would not take place.And, under the bylaws of the BHA, the swearing-in of new members and election of officers can only take place in a regular meeting.
The cancellation cam about after Ahumada was served during his last meeting as mayor last Tuesday after he wrote Lopez informing her that she had been replaced on the board by Ahumada replacement Troy Whittenmore.
In response, the chairperson Beatrice Lopez filed a motion Tuesday against Ahumada in the 357th District Court asking the court to issue an Temporary Restraining Order to prevent her removal without due process and to have a trial on the merits.
She further asked the court to enjoin Ahumada from replacing her as chairman because he "will be allowed to replace plaintiff and impermissibly influence board policy and autonomy and violate state law."
Under the charter of the City of Brownsville, the mayor appoints all five members of the BHA board, although his right to remove them is limited by state law.
Lopez charges in her petition that the mayor can only remove a commissioner of a housing authority for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or misconduct of office.
Further, she states that, as per state law, she must be given a copy of the charges before the 10th day before the date of the hearing on the charges, and an opportunity to be heard in person by counsel at the hearing.
"In the instant case, the defendant (Ahumada) failed to give plaintiff (Lopez) a copy of the charges he claims constitutes cause for dismissal. In addition, he summarily dismissed plaintiff without setting it for hearing and an opportunity to be heard," Lopez states in her petition. Ahumada was served with Lopez's petition during his last meeting as mayor Tuesday. The new mayor, Tony Martinez, will be sworn in next Tuesday.
Insiders say that because of the pending litigation, the board is justified in choosing not to meet. Once the issues are resolved, it is expected that the new mayor Tony Martinez will be in office and the Ahumada nominations will be moot.
"It's a game of chicken, with high stakes," said the BHA staffer. "I don't think the chairperson is going to blink."
3 comments:
When Ahumada announced to the world (after being soundly defeated for mayor)that he was going out to make some money....few thought he would just drive down to the Brownsville Housing Authority to try to make that money. He has been setting up "his" board and courting the developers for years. But, after the election he had to move quickly....and like Pat, he moved quickly but too loudly. His mouth gets him in all sorts of trouble. And, he is insistent that he must have the last word. What will his last word be at BHA???
Dude, I really enjoy your blog, but you have got to get a proofreader!
Don't care about a proofreader. Keep it coming!!! Great work.
Post a Comment