Council keeps Robert Quintero on Park Board after he cites medical absences

The Galveston City Council on July 24 considered whether to remove Robert Quintero from the Park Board of Trustees under city code §2-164 for failing to attend 75% of meetings in a 12-month period. After Quintero addressed the council, members voted unanimously to allow him to continue serving.

Quintero spoke directly to council about the reasons for his absences, which he characterized as excused: a medical sleep study and subsequent surgery that left him with obstructed breathing, a surgical complication that required bed rest when stitches tore, and a separate accident in which he separated his shoulder and spent the day in the emergency room. He said his medical treatment left him averaging about 2.3 hours of sleep per night at one point and, following treatment, he now averages nine hours of sleep.

Council members thanked Quintero for appearing at the meeting and then moved to allow him to remain on the Park Board for his normal term. The motion was seconded and approved unanimously.

Why it matters

Galveston’s municipal code requires board and committee members to attend a minimum share of meetings; council review of attendance is the process by which the city determines whether to remove or retain volunteers. In this case, council accepted medical and recovery circumstances as justification to retain Quintero on the board.

Details

- Code cited: Galveston City Code §2-164 (attendance requirement for board/committee members). - Action: Motion to allow Robert Quintero to continue serving on the Park Board of Trustees; motion passed unanimously July 24. - Implementation: Quintero will continue to serve his normal term; no removal or replacement action taken.

Speakers quoted in this article spoke during the agenda item and the roll-call/vote sequence.