Audit & Finance panel postpones decision on Immigrant Affairs, Aging bylaws; advances zero-waste change

Members of the Austin City Council's Audit and Finance Committee on April 16 postponed action on proposed bylaw amendments for the Commission on Immigrant Affairs and the Commission on Aging and recommended that the council send forward a change to the Zero Waste Advisory Commission that would remove an inactive organic management committee.

Two members of the Commission on Immigrant Affairs urged the committee to approve the immigrant commission's proposed bylaws amendment before the committee's discussion. Melissa Ortega, who identified herself as chair of the commission but spoke in a personal capacity, told the committee the amendment would add three community stakeholder seats and increase quorum flexibility to reduce delays caused by inactive appointed members. "Approving the proposed bylaws will help the Commission on Immigrant Affairs break through the existing gridlock," Ortega said. Miriam Dorantes, vice chair of the commission, said the changes would help center the lived…