Angleton council: key votes include pay raise for municipal judge, denial of ETJ release, hires for lifeguards

Angleton City Council members voted on a set of formal actions at their meeting, including a personnel pay adjustment, a denial of a request to release land from the city's extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ), and several budget and program decisions affecting the Angleton Recreation Center and parks.

The council approved a 3.2% salary increase for Municipal Court Associate Judge Mark Jones following an executive session deliberation. The council also voted to deny a petition from Angleton Estuary LLC seeking release of several tracts from the city's ETJ under Texas Local Government Code Subchapter D, citing ongoing legal challenges to state law that allows unilateral ETJ withdrawal.

On parks and recreation, the council approved recommendations from the Angleton Better Living Corporation (ABLC) to: (a) lift the hiring freeze for lifeguards at the Angleton Recreation Center so the facility can staff seasonal and all-day operations during high-use periods such as spring break; (b) approve selected decision-package budget adjustments for the Recreation Division and the Angleton Recreation Center; and (c) authorize an increase in the ABLC-to-general-fund transfer percentage this fiscal year (staff presented the revised transfer as necessary to balance ABLC-approved decision packages and to fund agreed recreation priorities).

The council also voted to table an amendment concerning Lehi Station No. 8 sanitary sewer collection system rehabilitation pending further review and state (GLO) approval, and approved KSA moving forward with phases 2' 4 of the lead service line inventory project.

Votes at a glance (formal outcomes taken from the meeting): - Consent agenda (items 2' 3 including Habitat for Humanity fee waiver and a victim assistance grant application): approved (motion by Mayor Pro Tem Townsend; second by Councilman Daniel). - Executive-session action: 3.2% pay raise for Municipal Court Associate Judge Mark Jones: approved (motion by Mayor Burton Townsend; second by Councilman Sarton). - Angleton Estuary LLC petition for ETJ release: denied (motion to deny; council vote carries). - Lehi Station No. 8 amendment with HDR (sanitary sewer rehabilitation): tabled pending GLO confirmation (motion to table by Councilman Sarton; second by Councilman Roberts). - Lead service line inventory (KSA) phases 2, 3 and 4: approved to proceed (motion by Councilman Booth; second by Councilman Roberts). - Lift hiring freeze for lifeguards at the Angleton Recreation Center (ABLC recommendation): approved (motion by Councilwoman Daniels; second by Councilman Sarton). - Lakeside Park wildscape pilot (convert designated park areas to native/wildscape maintenance): approved (motion and second; council vote carries). - ABLC fund transfers and decision-package balancing (increase in ABLC-to-general-fund transfer for this fiscal year to cover approved packages): approved (motion carries).

Several other agenda items were discussed or received updates; staff said further action requests will return to council when more details or outside approvals (TxDOT, GLO, or grant authorities) are available. The council did not take final action on the proposed comprehensive fee schedule; that public hearing remained open for final edits and a future first reading.