WHY IS MARTINEZ TRAMPLING ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER? TETREAU FILES AFFIDAVIT ON STEVE GUERRA GBIC VOTE

By Juan Montoya

We have gone over the video of the Oct. 3 City of Brownsville Commission meeting, specifically item 7, which reads: Consideration and action to appoint one member to the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation.

After City Secretary Griselda Rosas announced the item, commissioner Ricardo Longoria, Jr., moved that Mr. Esteban Guerra be appointed to the GBIC. The motion was seconded by commissioner Joel Munguia.

At this time Commissioner Jessica Tetreau a roll call in regards to the vote, a request that was inored by Mayor Tony Martinez.

The voting was Ayes: Commissioner Longoria, Jr., Munguia, and Tetreau
Nays: Commissioner Neece and Mayor Martinez

Abstained: Commissioner de Leon

Absent: Commissioner Gowen
That made it 3-2 to approve Guerra's nomination to join De Leon, Tetreau, Cameron County Treasurer David Betancourt, and John Gowen. Guerra's appointment would fill the one empty slot that resulted when former city commissioner Deborah Portillo resigned after she decided not to seek reelction to the city commision.

So why did Martinez state that there was a 2 for and 2 against vote therefore there was a tie before he asked if the commissioners wanted the motioned tabled?

Neece made a motion to table seconded by de Leon. The voting was as follows:
Ayes: Neece, de Leon, Munguia, Tetreau and Mayor Martinez
Nays: Longoria, Jr.
Absent: Gowen

De Leon has abstained because he said that he was unsure whether he could vote given the fact that he is on the GBIC board. We have learned that after acting City Attorney Allison Bastian contacted attorneys with the Texas Municipal League, she was informed that both Tetreau and De Leon could  vote on GBIC nominations to the board.

Meanwhile, Tetreau filed an notarized affidavit with the city secretary saying Martinez – besides ignoring her call for a roll vote – misinterpreted her vote and declared a tie. This has prompted secretary Rosas to complain that she is being harassed by Tetreau and "an attorney" over the issue. Others – like local blogger Jerry McHale – promptly accused Tereau of "perjury," although we don't think she was under oath at the time the Guerra vote was taken. But well, we know Jerry.

When the item comes up to choose a member for the GBIC noard, will the vote be moot since Tetreau said she voted for Guerra and therefore the majority vote should be respected? Since Gowen was absent from the meeting, will she – as she usually does – side with Martinez to overturn the majority decision at the last meeting?

Some commenters have said that Martinez is desperately to stack the GBIC board with his supporters to delay the release of an audit being conducted of BEDC operations by Price-Waterhiouse at the behest of the GBIC board that might be related to his travel with CEO Jason Hilts to Colombia.

Others dispurte that assertion saying that the audit is still not complete and that it will be presented to the city commission in due time.

What is clear is that the nomination of Nivck Serafy Jr.,  of Proficiency Testing Service and Ankjaer Jensen, of A. L. Loran International, is being questioned in light of the fact that both serve on the BEDC board, the organization whose recurring three-year, $5.2 million contract to vet companies for GBIC incnetives funding was not renewed following reports of waste and questionable spending under Hilts. Some commissioners have said that the BEDC board members knew of these questionable activities and did nothing to rectify the matter.