The City of Laredo Veterans Affairs Committee on Jan. 13 voted to postpone elections for committee leaders until the city attorney’s proposed bylaws template is reviewed and the committee can adopt or tailor those rules.

Jose Gomez moved to table the item pending the city’s bylaws template; the motion was seconded and, after discussion about voting eligibility, organizational representation and possible interim officers, the committee voted in favor of the motion.

Committee members pressed several questions about what the city template will require and whether organizations or individual representatives should be eligible to vote. Ricardo Quijano and others urged that voting membership reflect organizations with standing (for example, established VFW or American Legion posts) rather than one-member groups; Rivas (VFW) proposed adding language that requires a representative to demonstrate that they speak for an organization rather than only themselves.

The chair said the city council will review the template next week and that each committee will receive the template to customize. The committee agreed to revisit bylaws language and the timetable at the next meeting, and several members suggested the option of electing interim officers if the template process extends for months.

Formal outcome: motion to table elections until the committee receives and considers the city bylaws template — passed.