Bandera’s Economic Development Corporation (EDC) members disagree on the reason behind canceled meetings in recent months.
Former EDC member and current Bandera City Council member Lynn Palmer said the cancellations were due to a lack of quorum.
However, EDC member Andrea Jankoski said the lack of quorum stemmed from agendas not being posted on time — a responsibility that falls under interim City Administrator Jill Dickerson.
According to Jankoski, the issue is not new.
“This has been happening for years,” Jankoski said. “When I was president of the EDC a few years back, there were times I could not get in touch with Jill to post the agenda. I would have to go tape it on the city board.”
Jankoski also said she was frustrated that she did not have access to the city’s website to post agendas herself and ensure members had enough time to review items.
“This caused meetings to be canceled,” Jankoski said. “It’s been four to five years of this.”
Jankoski pointed to a recent incident in January, when she said Dickerson forgot about Martin Luther King Jr. Day and posted the agenda late.
“I emailed her twice to see when the agenda was actually posted, because I knew she forgot the holiday,” Jankoski said. “She never answered me. She just sent out a mass email saying the meeting was canceled due to lack of quorum and sort of danced around the fact that she forgot to post the agenda on time.”
According to the Texas Open Meetings Act, EDC agendas must be posted at least three business days before a scheduled meeting, excluding the day of the meeting.
The agenda posted in January was put up on a Wednesday, just one day before the scheduled EDC meeting on Jan. 22.
Jankoski also said she is concerned about what she believes was preferential treatment toward Palmer.
“Lynn would receive the agenda before the rest of the board members,” Jankoski said. “I’m concerned about the unequal access to important information among board members.”
Although Palmer no longer serves on the board, and new members have been appointed, Jankoski said she remains concerned about future procedures.
Several council members, including Debbie Breen, have raised similar concerns. During a previous City Council meeting, Breen said she had requested items to be placed on an agenda but did not receive a response from Dickerson.
The Bulletin requested a response from the city on multiple occasions but did not receive a reply.
The next EDC meeting is scheduled for April 21 at 6 p.m. at 511 Main St.
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