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.