Haslet charter commission adopts 13-article bylaws framework, approves mission and voting threshold

The Haslet Home Rule Charter Commission unanimously approved a 13-article framework for its bylaws and adopted detailed language for Articles 1 through 13 at a meeting on March 4, establishing how the panel will operate while it drafts a proposed home rule charter to send to the city council and voters.

The commission chair opened the meeting at 7 p.m. and led the Pledge of Allegiance before the group moved quickly through procedural business and into the substantive agenda. "We have two oaths of office to administer tonight," the chair said as new members were sworn in and signed statements of appointed officer.

Commission member Joel Bullard proposed a concise mission statement adapted from an example used by another Texas city. "The mission of the City of Haslet Home Rule Charter Commission is to create a home rule charter that addresses the current needs of City of Haslet residents," Bullard read and the commission adopted wording stating the charter should be flexible to adapt to future requirements and be developed through an open, transparent process actively involving City of Haslet residents.

On the bylaws themselves, commissioners agreed on a straightforward table of contents that will guide the commission's internal work: name and authority; purpose and duties; membership; officers; meetings; rules of procedure; committees; community outreach; records and transparency; legal and staff support; timeline; amendment of bylaws; and dissolution. The chair moved the framework and the motion passed by voice vote.

The body then worked article by article. Highlights include: - Article 2 (Purpose and Duties): The commission will study city structure and law, hold public meetings and hearings, solicit input, deliberate and recommend charter provisions (including approving sections as they are drafted), and submit a final proposed charter to the city council for placement on the first eligible election. - Article 3 (Membership): The commission clarified vacancy procedures: the appointing authority will be notified immediately of a known vacancy and will have 30 days to fill it; alternates were discussed but left to the appointing authority and applicable law. Ethics provisions were included and tied to removal language. - Article 5 (Meetings): The commission will comply with the Texas Open Meetings Act, meet at least once per month, and the public comment section was revised to read explicitly as "city of Haslet resident participation," with time limits set at the chair's discretion. - Article 6 (Rules / Voting): Commissioners amended voting rules so that final approval of the charter requires a two-thirds majority of the full membership (ten of 15 members).

Legal references were recorded during discussion: Texas Constitution Article XI, Section 5, and the Texas Local Government Code sections cited by commissioners (including 9.001 and 9.004) as source authority for formation and dissolution procedures.

Several motions to adopt specific article language were made, seconded and approved during the meeting. The minutes and consent agenda were also approved earlier in the session; staff noted one minute attachment would be posted with the packet.

The commission explicitly added a clause to records and transparency stating that "all work survives individual members," intended to make clear that the commission's work remains if a member resigns or is removed before the commission is dissolved.

Next steps: the commission will continue drafting charter content by forming subcommittees to research substantive sections and will present drafts for deliberation and vote before assembling the final proposed charter for submission to the city council for an election placement. The commission adjourned at 9:39 p.m.