The Houston City Council voted Aug. 21 to table a Downtown Development Authority (DDA) nomination for Anita Boyd to replace Dr. Kumar, so the DDA can consider reopening the application and using a newly revised form.
Council members who spoke on the item said the DDA has several recent additions to its membership and that the chair created a new, more detailed application after the two initial candidates submitted materials. One council member said the original two applications were received "through word of mouth" and that a public reopening would likely produce more applicants.
Several council members expressed support for giving the newly formed DDA time and autonomy to run its selection process. "I would just really felt like it should be opened up to the public," one council member said, urging the council not to rush the appointment. Another said the council should "back you" and give the DDA the chance to add more applicants.
The council made a motion to table the recommendation until the September meeting; the motion was seconded and the council voted to table the appointment. Council members noted there was no urgency to fill the vacancy and that at least one other application had been submitted but not processed under the old form.
The tabling gives the DDA chair and members roughly one month to use the new application form, solicit additional candidates and return with a recommendation to the council.