Special to El Rrun-Rrun
Some were dragged kicking and screaming, but in the end – and after an amended motion to specify board counsel – a majority of the board Brownsville Independent School District approved for the administration to issue a Request For Qualifications (RFP) for board legal services, something that has not been done for the last eight years.
Among the most recalcitrant to be led to water was former BISD chair person Minerva Peña – who was on the board in 2013 and championed current board counsel Baltazar Salazar – and Drue Brown, who continued to recite the mantra of "it's not the right time," a chant she has recited since 2020 when there was a motion to terminate the Houston lawyer.
Board member Dr. Prisci Roca-Tipton argued that the board had delayed placing the item on the agenda when Peña was board president by saying it was "not the right time" on October, November, and now in January, both Brown and Peña were arguing that the wording was vague and could get the district and the board in trouble.
"This is no different than going out for proposals for insurance, or tax collections," Roca-Tipton argued.
"We just had federal indictments over the wording on agenda items," Brown intoned. "I don't think this is properly written. I object to the wording."
Salazar also chimed in and said that since he was the board attorney, it would have to be a board member who placed it on the agenda and not the administration through Superintendent Dr. Rene Gutierrez.
Roca-Tipton said she had noticed his name on the people copied to receive the proposed agenda and Salazar said that had received it but "have not been asked to review it."
"This is not a termination or a firing," said board president Eddie Garcia. "This is just giving the administration the approval to go out fr proposals so that we can have time to evaluate and make a selection," he said. "Who knows, maybe it might be Mr. Salazar will be chosen."
Ultimately – on the advice of BISD legal staff member Miguel Salinas – Roca-Tipton amended her motion to authorize administration to issue a RFQ to hire a board attorney. Brown, Peña and Jessica Gonzalez voted against it. Trustees Roca-Tipton, Daniela Valdez-Lopez, Garcia, and Denise Garza voted to approve the motion.
The board had authorized the administration to issue RFQs for delinquent tax collections since it was going on a year that the contract with Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP has expired and since there had been two tied votes (3-3), the firm had been hired on a month to month basis by default. That contract puts some $800,000 in the firm's pockets yearly, as it has for the last five years, almost $4 million.
In Salazar's case, he started out at $18,000 a month in 2013 and over time that has increased to $25,000, a $300,000 salary over 12 months. The latest contract will expire in July, and the district has 90 days to give Salazar notice, therefore the need to move now, Gutierrez said.
During that time, Salazar has invested in BSD candidates, notably Peña, who listed generous in-kind contributions from the board attorney, his sister, and even Dave Brown, Drue Brown' husband. Could the Salazar money to her campaign coffers (God forbid!) have influenced Peña's dogged defense and delaying tactics to delay consideration of the RFQs?
"I have never seen this done this way before, ever, ever, ever," Peña – "with all due respect" – kept interrupting the meeting. "I just want to protect the district, our board members. I'd like for us to table this now."
"You said it wasn't the right time in October, then in November, and it's still not the right time," said Roca-Tipton. "When is it going to be the right time?"
In this last election – which has been challenged in court by her challenger Marisa F. Leal – Peña reported these Salazar, Brown and Vera (Salazar's sister) contributions:
13 comments:
Drue, if now is not the time, when will it be? Until we get socked by Salazar again and he gets the contract again. Is Salazar playing a Donald Trump scare tactic himself? Look at the time you wasted on these items when you only piddled around a bit regarding the safety of our kids and teachers who are being sent to campus. You need that money to lobby up in Austin and get the idiot of Greg Abbott (Donald Trump's puppet and Ted Cruz) to consider doing home-based teaching until the virus is under real control. Pick your fights ladies and gentleman. Do what you were elected to do for the betterment of the district. Same ole, same ole! Kudos to those who voted to go out for RFQ's. Stop bickering against each other!
I am not surprised at Drue Brown's actions but surely am disappointed that Dave Brown got dragged into it. He probably made the contribution to please his controlling wife. Sorry to see such disappointing acts by Drue.
Drue Brown is not heady enough to be in politics. I call malarkey on her. Resign Drue. You're not up to the job.
Drue Brown is now in cahoots with Minerva, since her buddy is awaiting the time for her to be put away for a time. Drue better watch it, as well as Minerva, cause they could be thrown under the bus when SPA tries to defend her
last fight. Oh, is SPA still telling you from behind closed doors how to vote and what to do? Same on both of you puppets.
Where's the FBI easy pickin' NO SHAME
Juanito how many of these rats has the law put away 15 and counting???
Another Hildago "leader" will be run out of Hidalogo and Brownsville will hire them thinking they won the lotto.
The former Board member (who was indicted) brought in the Hidalgo crew for a REASON. Now look!
Which hidalgo based lawyer is coming now?
Everyone careful with Prisci & Eddie! They are up to no good. Their true colors are showing! Careful, careful, careful.......
Okay, which lawyers vying for the job at BISD, as Board attorney, are trashing Drue in this blogger’s BS?
Drue, dump Sylvia Atkinson for good. You don't need Minerva Pena either. She is a joke. Eddie Garcia, Mr. Green Eggs, is unfit for Board President. Now he thinks he is the King of the Glass Palace. Prison Rocca Tipton was Sylvia's Atkinson lap dog and she wanted out. The Atkinsons, Powers and Tolman (Mary) are desperate for power again. No one can stand to be around them anymore knowing Sylvia Atkinson was federally indicted on education Corruption.
So Drue is saying that the reason Sylvia is going to jail is because the wording on an agenda item? She’ll always protect Sylvia to protect herself.
Drue argued that the new board members needed more time to become familiar with the process involved and what had happened beforehand. Did she feel the same way when she first came in as board member and immediately stabbed whom she called a fine lady and good friend, in the back? Or does it make a difference when someone else is pushing you to vote a certain way. The facts are there and the new members knew about it, so why would they have to wait any further? It is time for Balty to also quit talking about conflict of interest in a list of potential lawyers who may be hired? So why is he even talking to defend himself? Isn't that also a conflict of interest? He pokes the eyes of his favorites on the board and buys their vote with campaign contributions but that is not a conflict of interest? All are a bunch of crooks and we can only hope that the new blood circulates through BISD with a sole purpose of doing what is good for the district and not their personal agendas. It is the pot calling the kettle black!
Minnie mouse, girl you gain some weight since your days at Porter High school and the porter belles outfit you used to use im sure it wont fit anymore, anyway time to get on a diet girl before a heart attack or something might happen. good day and adios.
Hey you, who commented on January 14, 2021@2:20 pm, are you in love with minnie mouse? Sure sounds like it. Too bad minnie mouse will not give you the time of day. Pobrecito de usted!
Its mickey mouse at January 14, 2021 at 2:20 PM
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