[{"_1":2,"_120":-5,"_121":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_25":26},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_27":28,"_29":30},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[31,74,86,98,109],{"_32":33,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":39,"_40":41,"_42":43,"_44":45,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6203333,"mediaKeyId","3783283-11039dd33eaf12f893055bb96cec037d","parentId",3783283,"title","Freeport council approves academy assistance program to fund public-safety training","audioSeconds",413,"startMs",4322000,"endMs",4735000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3783283-11039dd33eaf12f893055bb96cec037d&start=4322&end=4735","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3783283-11039dd33eaf12f893055bb96cec037d/thumbnail_4322000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6203333/Freeport/Brazoria-County/Texas/Freeport-council-approves-academy-assistance-program-to-fund-public-safety-training","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6203333-88ba7aa644eb03f8b87bbd3b292e8f62/orig.mp4?Expires=1769619602&Signature=fWAaIeE2uqHm0PQGApIaJ1No6DO~pB72iJ3vdM4vAkn6Dl7n2eY9uB5~Iu7Ke6nlp1b3Rm1DpGKxaigtFgqpLlTtgOnOgenPlpM9zFkaK-PsG2NgFyaRclyXr7PioCei~PmH~0a8hlYsuSALsiMFRopvwsDStbQP3FN0nrGwNGY65H4MmPEMnrl6i7KYiqvqlmivto7AGHCqmo3AlWW-leZcEP~BFM~XXV1odViHcBdrCEBxa6yDcZvZUy6x7Tj2EONDQdoOQYEZuxNhIBKJFFYC2Q0sdEGmmqsjQa9eMDahCvJXGAFWPPLnssGErfYHM2TLBkGqkARrlLES2WyWJA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Freeport TX","date","2025-06-02T00:00:00Z","article","The Freeport City Council on June 2 approved a new academy assistance program that will allow eligible city public-safety employees to receive up to $5,250 in educational assistance per calendar year for attendance at certified police or fire academies.

Miss Fisher, who presented the proposed policy handbook amendment, said the program is structured to qualify under federal tax code Section 127 so that up to $5,250 in assistance per year is not taxable income to the employee. The program requires recipients to sign an educational assistance agreement obligating them to work for the city for two years after graduation; if an employee leaves earlier they must repay the assistance on a prorated basis.

Miss Fisher said the program aims to support professional development for jailers, dispatchers, EMS personnel, and other eligible staff, ensuring the city has certified public-safety employees. The council discussed retention and clawback provisions; one council member suggested stronger payback terms to improve retention, while others said the proposal was a modest start given budget constraints.

After discussion and amendments were considered, the council approved the policy change by a 4-1 vote; Councilman Pena was the lone dissenting vote. Council members asked staff to consider additional retention incentives in future policy work, such as residency incentives and housing assistance tied to recruitment and retention.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Freeport TX Council Meeting 6-2-25 Part 1","oneSentenceSummary","Council approved a program to reimburse up to $5,250 per year for qualifying employees to attend police or fire academies, with a two-year work commitment and prorated repayment if the employee leaves earlier.","taxTitle","Freeport, Brazoria County, Texas","taxId",69416,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_32":75,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":76,"_40":77,"_42":78,"_44":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6203338,"Freeport council tables boards appointments amid late applications and Main Street accreditation concerns",1021,1609000,2630000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3783283-11039dd33eaf12f893055bb96cec037d&start=1609&end=2630","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3783283-11039dd33eaf12f893055bb96cec037d/thumbnail_1609000.jpg","/articles/6203338/Freeport/Brazoria-County/Texas/Freeport-council-tables-boards-appointments-amid-late-applications-and-Main-Street-accreditation-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6203338-9c822aa27ae77c84355777110873c2c9/orig.mp4?Expires=1769619602&Signature=PhurZdse0IuNL0CwJErDc-mlcqOUzfB63h2zibyRLvCWvCNTeHYkGjRSvAn7AzaHf1hT20ms-QBTnj0XcjPpldR0NW2GE-DQ2UwFRY1mL9jt-463MAPZ1~VfgyAq8026fFqTSHyyeEqPqiiTh7PDt~buuyETev~fXrPZnqO8QfJAniMpQGAdXl7bjaMnht4EM1KwV5xULSthp5LZbvjKdO-MYMaAkPaiM7ih-dS2dgOyEXyxlN7WpMWT3r1UHwH1N2nX1okw0i4O8Cq~FWHwcjtAUeV2NKRCJ~gYh8YZebBYssj3fYVrgOpLzPMPqy3YSckUVddLZuZ-MwKGso4WCg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Freeport City Council voted 3-2 on June 2 to table action on appointments and reappointments to multiple city boards and commissions after staff disclosed several applications were submitted the same day the agenda packet was finalized.

Council members said they wanted more time to vet recently submitted applications and to confirm the process had been followed; other members argued delaying appointments would impair boards that need a quorum to meet. The council ultimately opted to delay the appointments to the next meeting.

The item followed public comments from residents including Melanie Oldham and Pam Dancy, who raised concerns about the Main Street board. Oldham said Main Street had not met in three months despite repeated requests from board members and that the organization's quarterly report may be at risk. Dancy urged the council to reinstate missing routine workshops and \"drive around\" their wards to identify issues, saying citizens felt the city was not responsive.

During the appointment discussion, staff described the typical process for board recruitment and noted deadlines posted for applications; council members pointed out the packet contained new applications received that morning, including one from Shonda Marshall. Councilman Matamoros and others warned the city advertised the openings and that deadlines should be respected, while council members seeking to include late applicants said keeping volunteers engaged was also important.

The motion to table agenda item 3B (appointments/reappointments to boards and commissions) passed 3-2. Staff said the item will be returned to the next council agenda for final action. Meanwhile, council members and members of the public asked staff to prioritize filling vacancies for boards that need members to maintain functionality, including economic development and Main Street.","Council voted to table appointments to boards and commissions after several same-day applications and questions about process; citizens raised concerns about inactivity of the Main Street board and risk to its accreditation.",{"_32":87,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":88,"_40":89,"_42":90,"_44":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6203344,"Freeport awards EPA Brownfields contract to Terracon; council member seeks stronger vendor vetting",322,3123000,3445000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3783283-11039dd33eaf12f893055bb96cec037d&start=3123&end=3445","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3783283-11039dd33eaf12f893055bb96cec037d/thumbnail_3123000.jpg","/articles/6203344/Freeport/Brazoria-County/Texas/Freeport-awards-EPA-Brownfields-contract-to-Terracon-council-member-seeks-stronger-vendor-vetting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6203344-8f6ee02c4859c3cebae2de161c5d6bf1/orig.mp4?Expires=1769619602&Signature=NWRo6HnyiOA15Phvfj59-aONMpbb6pyjnh04Zhg-YNrFVDssgij3Jp4fGUUug-BZFWG0pDEeQele1083lJgRa4F7KnwiGdxk-5rSe1wfXCNRBqL6569DG3cPyzDgyVBvqzIv9PgiTAu7SK6pILDS2mjqedBLPD1OO3r7MweTZJAPR0VPNZfJvHdabV7uTYNYwfyTBFdnTS8RFH40PFWgp6VCZomncEh-Drt7hltVNZl4tbsORWxVEvp4kKYKStSoyt1NBGZx60Y~uWkEcGpCvM~8GNSbxk29z65lxwsJrjalTb6sCHGd4CCbuqZgE20C6fsqDbKmucMqIDKxxRKPcw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Freeport City Council on June 2 voted 4-1 to award the environmental professional contract for the city's EPA Brownfields grant to Terracon, whose bid totaled $452,200, under a $500,000 Environmental Protection Agency award. Councilman Pena cast the lone dissent, saying he would not approve the contract until the city had performed additional vetting of the bidder's bonding and insurance.

Miss Hurst told council the $500,000 EPA grant is 100% reimbursable and that staff recommended awarding the work to Terracon based on the bids received. \"This grant is 100% reimbursable, so there's no local match on our part,\" she said. Terracon submitted a total bid of $452,200, the low responsive bid among submissions.

Councilman Pena raised concerns about due diligence and cited a recent litigation involving a previous contractor, saying the city had previously been \"burned\" by insufficient bonding and insurance checks. \"I can't vote in approval for it until I'm sure that that bonding has been vetted,\" he said. Several council members said the submitted bonds and insurance certificates were included in the bid packets; staff indicated bonding and insurance documents had been submitted but explained the city typically relies on the submitted certificates rather than contacting carriers for independent confirmation.

After discussion, the council approved the award to Terracon; the motion carried 4-1 with Councilman Pena voting no. Staff said the grant work will proceed under EPA rules and that the city would begin the contractor onboarding process after contract execution.","The council approved awarding the EPA-funded Brownfields environmental assessment contract to Terracon for $452,200 under a $500,000 EPA grant, but one council member opposed the award and asked for additional bonding and insurance vetting after previous contractor disputes.",{"_32":99,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":100,"_40":101,"_42":91,"_44":102,"_46":103,"_48":104,"_50":105,"_52":106,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":107,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":108,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6203348,"Freeport council updates water fees; adds tampering charges after smart-meter review",885,4330000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3783283-11039dd33eaf12f893055bb96cec037d&start=3445&end=4330","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3783283-11039dd33eaf12f893055bb96cec037d/thumbnail_3445000.jpg","/articles/6203348/Freeport/Brazoria-County/Texas/Freeport-council-updates-water-fees-adds-tampering-charges-after-smart-meter-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6203348-4dffa2e7e0df87112dcf3f98f3fe8134/orig.mp4?Expires=1769619602&Signature=knTu-svPCBW3EMSGsPjZkYzBcJcmWX8VaUZgnmyuMs0JimFwx7OFXSSPp0TRB7wOb1WSDVkxK6z2rTZiNKUUNrjdajed~8EDaefI887WseZBcvSDDMSpMxoVoVdyE0q5zYK-5y-yXpONjRCZzaruC-tCFhlVWEcUb~hG0DY0CCIQ35Sw3YG2Xg~EDqn6tnVR3xGERXJoKYd9~jiXfO6uDdYFnlI6iAoOcKaYU~gNdxoeoa2-rD~rh4lJmwOZWTcJED2l5hCYb6t89IK2g0~83qmue8R7ASeM18zyx4MQQDUy-cdOaMZGLp4ta49g7DqDvIHyD-c3yBcrNEZxlmWfTQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Freeport City Council on June 2 approved changes to the city's master fee schedule for water-related charges, including higher late and check-return fees and new tampering and replacement charges tied to recently installed smart meters.

City staff said the smart meters reveal when disconnected accounts are later reconnected, creating new enforcement and cost-recovery needs. The council approved the amendments unanimously.

Finance staff described the specific changes: the returned-check fee will increase from $25 to $30, the flat late fee will change to 10% of the outstanding balance or $10 — whichever is greater — and three new tampering-related fees will be added. The proposed fees are $100 for unauthorized reconnection, $150 for damage to the meter box, and full replacement cost for a damaged meter. Staff said the city may pursue code or legal action in addition to fees.

Miss Hurst, who presented the item, explained the change was prompted by observed meter reconnections after the city had remotely disconnected service: \"With the smart meters, if that happens, then the city is aware instantly that it's been turned back on.\" She told council that the city had ordered numbered tags for Veolia crews to lock valves and track tampering.

Council members pressed staff on billing accuracy and the pace of system clean-up. A council member asked how long it would take to stabilize billing; staff said new processes and scanners for paper files were being implemented and that the department had become \"fully staffed again\" recently. Several members urged staff to finish resolving legacy billing errors before broad enforcement; others said theft of service harms paying customers and supported stronger penalties for tampering.

The motion to approve the amended fees and new tampering charges carried unanimously. Staff said revenues from any collected charges would protect the city's investment in the meter system and help recover replacement costs where needed.","The council amended the master fee schedule to raise some fees and add tampering and replacement charges tied to new smart meters; staff said the meters allow detection of unauthorized reconnections and the finance team is still cleaning historical billing issues.",{"_32":110,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":111,"_40":112,"_42":113,"_44":113,"_46":114,"_48":115,"_50":116,"_52":117,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":118,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":119,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6203353,"Freeport council delays action on police chief pending full investigation report",0,5778000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3783283-11039dd33eaf12f893055bb96cec037d&start=5778&end=5778","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3783283-11039dd33eaf12f893055bb96cec037d/thumbnail_5778000.jpg","/articles/6203353/Freeport/Brazoria-County/Texas/Freeport-council-delays-action-on-police-chief-pending-full-investigation-report","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6203353-0a9368770bce57b4b4679121b92e7f6c/orig.mp4?Expires=1769619602&Signature=iclZAd-wL7eSoyJNYiyTHK~Wuj9uYylCVbhB-oDF0D-8pgYHteLApwnxcx~BZZqSIVcY4Mf5iZLBYtfwgLpeuYvhgXiRfhGZbSl66tx299T8OBOgnzPWNOnj8E~ffxoth87KC3yQub-4oKIKItrdeJ94GXUSj-C5Zhpjbo1WOtULv9OoENyrBOGH8VwIVkZQKq94KWONaCKUUxm-5jPuTtbAB0Rqr5AnMJZni7O9J2TVilM4ULydj56N2MEsJ8C9QgzPRESM5q6YBB396Kd5oCE0dPKNfppl~giNrkViraEsI5t0MTvXP5cV9DsnOzQ8omovv9DBoV9wyE7ynWvGhg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Freeport City Council on June 2 delayed formal action on an ongoing investigation into Police Chief Jennifer Howell, directing staff to provide the investigator's report to council members and to the chief before any executive-session discussion.

Council members said they could not responsibly discuss or decide the chief's employment status without having the final report in hand and time to review it. The council additionally voted to meet in executive session later the same night after confirming the report would be distributed to council and the chief beforehand.

The move came after repeated public and council criticism about transparency and the timing of the report. Councilman Davis pushed for immediate delivery, saying, \"I want the report now, mayor,\" and pressing staff to stop what he described as withholding the document. Several council members said the final report was received by legal staff over the weekend and that copies would be distributed after the chief received her copy.

Mayor (title provided in meeting records) convened discussion of agenda item 3J, described in the agenda as \"police chief investigation status,\" and multiple council members raised concerns that the public and council had been left without key information for weeks. Councilman Pena and others framed the request as procedural: they wanted time to review the document before executive-session deliberations and any personnel decision.

Council members also aired broader concerns about morale and staffing in the police department. One council member said mishandling of personnel matters \"can lead to another mass exodus\" among officers; another urged due process and fairness \"for every employee, the chief included.\" The council ultimately voted to proceed into executive session after confirming arrangements to receive the report.

The executive-session notice that followed listed consultations with the city attorney (Texas Gov't Code sec. 551.071) and personnel deliberations regarding the police chief (sec. 551.074). The council said copies of the report would be distributed to council and the chief before any closed-session discussion.

The item concluded with a 3-2 vote to enter executive session to discuss the chief's status; council members said the report would be provided and that a special meeting could be scheduled if necessary to allow fuller public transparency after the closed discussion.","The Freeport City Council postponed formal action on Chief Jennifer Howell after council members demanded the investigator's report be delivered to all council members and to the chief before any executive-session discussion or decision.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Freeport council approves academy assistance program to fund public-safety training

Freeport council tables boards appointments amid late applications and Main Street accreditation concerns

Freeport awards EPA Brownfields contract to Terracon; council member seeks stronger vendor vetting

Freeport council updates water fees; adds tampering charges after smart-meter review

Freeport council delays action on police chief pending full investigation report