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Converse Parks and Recreation Commission excuses some absences, approves officer changes and readies alternate for full appointment
Summary
The commission voted to mark several member absences as excused or unexcused, agreed to recommend Chair Susan Bayona’s reappointment to city council, elected Orlando Cruz vice chair and appointed Terry Borland treasurer; the body also introduced alternate Richard McBroom and set a recommendation for his full appointment at the next meeting.
The Converse Parks and Recreation Commission voted on attendance status for multiple members, approved a recommendation to reappoint its chair and completed two officer elections during its Jan. 13 meeting.
The commission, chaired by Susan Bayona, determined that three recent absences for member Kristen Spears would be unexcused while one earlier absence was excused. Naina Nixon Mendez, assistant city manager, told the commission that city code says “failure to attend 3 consecutive meetings without being excused shall be considered a resignation and the city council will be asked to appoint a replacement for the remainder of the term.” The commission voted to treat November 4, December 9 and January 16 as unexcused and to excuse the earlier absence on October 7.
Members also considered absences for Rochelle South and Brad Kessler. After discussion and a roll-call-style process for those items, the commission accepted South’s absences from Dec. 9 and Jan. 6 as excused and accepted Kessler’s Jan. 16 absence as excused. Chair Bayona and staff emphasized that the commission will follow the city code going forward and return unresolved absence items to a future agenda when required.
On membership and officers, the commission formally introduced alternate member Richard McBroom, noting his effective start date as Dec. 17, 2024, and directed staff to place a recommendation to appoint McBroom as a full member on the next meeting agenda, contingent on completion of required open-meeting training.
The commission voted to recommend to city council that Susan Bayona be reappointed as a full member; Bayona has attended the body’s meetings and events, commissioners said when making the recommendation.
The commission elected Orlando Cruz as vice chair effective immediately. Commissioners held a separate election for treasurer; after procedural discussion and an initial tie, Rochelle South withdrew her nomination and the commission appointed Terry Borland as treasurer.
Procedural notes: several items required follow-up because commission members said the chair must excuse absences on the day of the meeting or the item must return for a vote. Multiple votes were voice or roll-call with members saying “aye” on the record; the transcript records no numeric roll-call tally for every vote.
The commission also approved its minutes from Dec. 9, 2024, and Jan. 6, 2025.
The body adjourned with several items to return on future agendas, including the formal recommendation to city council for McBroom’s full appointment and routine follow-up on excused/unexcused attendance.
