Rowlett council seeks legal advice after disclosing planner's employer; places removal on future agenda

During its Jan. 27 work session Rowlett City Council raised concerns about a potential conflict of interest involving Planning & Zoning Commission alternate Carl Crowley, who council members said is employed by Master Plan, a consulting firm that does planning work for municipalities.

A council member reported that he had called Crowley and that Crowley acknowledged his employment with Master Plan and told council that he would recuse himself from any Planning & Zoning matters involving Master Plan. Council members noted Crowley previously served on the Planning & Zoning Commission — including a term as chair — while holding the same employment.

Given the potential for real or perceived conflicts, council members asked for legal advice and convened a closed executive session under Section 551.071 of the Texas Government Code "for the purpose of seeking confidential legal advice from the city attorney on agenda item 3b, appointments to various boards and commissions." The council went into executive session at about 6:11 p.m. and concluded at 6:21 p.m.; the public record of the meeting states no action was taken during the executive session.

After returning to open session, council members agreed to add a future agenda item to consider the possible removal of Carl Crowley from his alternate position on the Planning & Zoning Commission. No removal action occurred at the Jan. 27 meeting; the council scheduled the matter for a future public agenda so the topic can be discussed and acted on in open session if the council chooses.

The city attorney and city staff were the primary sources of legal counsel during the executive-session discussion, according to the meeting transcript. Council members said they would follow statutory procedures for any removal process and bring the item back to a future agenda.