Pearland’s summer of ethics talk ends in extra regulation, finance disclosure webpage
Published: Tue, 09/06/22
Pearland’s summer of ethics talk ends in extra regulation, finance disclosure webpage
Community Impact
By Andy Yanez |
Pearland City Council at its July 11 meeting passed the second reading of an ordinance that adopted new guidelines for council members to enter into deals with the city. On Aug. 22, City Council adopted a resolution reinforcing the goal of financial transparency.
“What we have is a little bit stricter now than state law with those additional state provisions,” Pearland City Attorney Darrin Coker told Community Impact Newspaper.
However, the approved ordinance is less strict than first reading proposed when it called for an absolute restriction on deals with council member connections. Additionally, the approved ordinance did away with a separate ordinance adopted May 23 that barred former council members from entering into deals with the city for at least 12 months once they left office, Council Member Adrian Hernandez said.
Restrictions on council member businesses with local governments go back to the 1990s, Coker said. Prior to the adoption of Chapter 171 of the Texas Local Government Code, restrictions were strict on council members with direct or indirect connections to a business. Deals were outlawed, Coker said.