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Pecos council votes to require PEDC compliance after public calls for forensic audit
Summary
After public callers urged an independent forensic audit following a recent arrest of a council member, Pecos City Council voted July 9 to require the Pecos Economic Development Corporation to comply with its bylaws and provide the city access to records and approvals for projects and expenditures.
Pecos City Council voted July 9 to require the Pecos Economic Development Corporation (PEDC) to comply with its bylaws, submit projects, expenditures and agreements for city-council approval, and provide the city access to PEDC records as permitted by law.
Attorney Hector Pena opened the public-comment period by urging an independent forensic audit. "When serious questions are raised about the management of public funds, the answer should never be to avoid scrutiny," Pena said, calling transparency the way to restore public trust.
Councilwoman Trujillo moved the measure and Councilman Arona seconded it; the presiding official announced the motion carried. The motion followed a staff reading of PEDC bylaws that noted the board’s stated purpose as economic development for Pecos City and cited apparent gaps in required reporting: the council record included that 10 quarterly reports were due from July 2023 to June 2026 and five had been received, and staff reported multiple checks over $15,000 during overlapping fiscal periods.
Several residents and stakeholders pressed the council for openness. Nancy Anchondo said she was "hurtful and embarrassed" to see a council member in custody and urged that "if one person is gonna be held accountable, I think everybody else should be also held accountable. So let's open the books." David Dominguez, president of the PADC board, expressed support for the current PEDC leadership but said the organization is willing to provide financials if required.
Council members framed the vote as a restoration of proper oversight. Members asked staff and legal counsel for any interlocal agreements or contracts that might authorize PEDC activity beyond Pecos city limits, and requested copies of PEDC agendas and minutes where questioned transactions were approved.
The council also asked staff to prepare an RFP/RFQ process for a forensic audit covering financials and contracts related to the PEDC so the city can solicit qualified firms; staff said it would seek firms in larger metro areas if necessary and aim to present options by the next meeting.
What happens next: Staff will compile the requested PEDC records and procurement documents and bring recommendations on an RFP for an independent forensic audit to a future council meeting.
