Only until after the Brownsville City Commission emerges from its executive session will the taxpayers of Brownsville know whether and how much newly-elected District 34 congressman Filemon Vela Jr. will be required to pay for his spacious new digs on the second floor of the Municipal Court.
The open secret that the city crews were already working on the facility prior to any agreement to give Vela a nice crib for his official duties have been known to city employees for more than two weeks. However, it wasn't until this Friday that the city's notice of the meeting and posted agenda that the public knew that the move had being contemplated.
In the polemic debate that followed, the leak that Vela was going to be charged a token $1 fee per year as rent has been debated by those pro and con on the issue. However, until the commissioners emerge, the exact rates to be charged remain unknown. Will the commission bite the bullet and go along with the $1 idea or not? The lease agreement rules issued by the congressional administrative counsel and included in the meeting package indicate that they must be reviewed by that office before payment (if any) is approved. Until then, the agreement between Fil and the city will not be binding.
The contract before the commissioners has been left blank. There is no specific rental amount mentioned, and no mention of what other services will be provided (how many reserved parking spaces, etc.). The decision on those matters will be left up to the commission and Hizzoner Tony Martinez. This blog has posted that inside city sources had indicate that Martinez will try to get the commission to agree on the $1 token rent rate. How successful he will be now that that information is out before the public will determine his powers of persuasion.
However, be that as it may, there are other items on the Dec. 4 agenda that bear more scrutiny. Take for example, action items 11 and 12 that the commissioners will vote on whether to encumber yet another $13.475 million in new debt through the issuance of Certificates of Obligation based on property taxes and "certain surpluses" in the airport and landfill budgets.The items do not include the purpose for the issuance of the $13.475 million, only that the commissioners approve the issuance and purchase of the bonds. Will the funds be used to purchase yet more real estate by the Mayor to entice the oil-and-gas rich University of Texas System to remain downtown as he has been doing for the past six or so months? Or is it for some other purpose?
Doubtless, Martinez will let us know what he is using our money for when it suits him. Until then, we are expected to continue to beloieve that his intentions are good. Or should we?
3 comments:
as a city employee in the Levee st. building where hizzoner was escourting Fils administrative aide around, I was put out that she was barking out orders as to where and how many offices she needed for her operation of Fils local office. I think she finally decided on 5, and said she wanted them finished out ASAP. And the work started. Since this space is off limits to us city employees, I have no idea how it is comming along, but I hear that it will be really nice, not only befitting some one of hizzoner's status but also that of Fil's administrator and even Fil himself. So much for the mayors concern about city workers.
as for the debt portion of this article when will we as taxpayers speak up and tell elected officials ya basta? no more taxes no more debt balance your budget and live within your means mayor and city commissioners.
fily administrated aid , lets get her to work for public works dept. check the side walk on morrison ,public works dept employees that work for the inept santana torres had work for three weeks and done shit, mayor you need to fire some people.
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