Hutto council debates discipline for Planning & Zoning chair after citizen's allegation

The Hutto City Council spent more than an hour debating whether the chair of the Planning & Zoning Commission should face discipline after a citizen raised concerns about comments the chair allegedly made following a Planning & Zoning meeting.

Mayor (presiding) summarized the complaint to the council, saying a citizen contacted P&Z leadership after an agenda item did not go their way and was told, according to the mayor's retelling, that "this person is a minority" and that "the mayor's a racist," and that the council "is not gonna do anything to help you." The mayor said such remarks “do not breed trust in our government” and expressed concern given the chair's influential role on development decisions.

Rick Hudson, who identified himself in the meeting as "Rick Hudson, chair of the planning and zoning commission," disputed parts of the retelling and characterized the conversation as a private exchange. Hudson told the council he "can't offer you legal advice" and that he had given his opinion to the caller, arguing the exchange occurred on his personal cell phone and was not an official act. "I was speaking to a private citizen," he said, stressing that he had recommended the citizen hire an attorney and that he did not intend those remarks to be the city's legal position.

Council members split on how to proceed. Several urged caution and asked for written documentation before pursuing removal, with one member saying they would "probably recommend to remove from chair until further understood." Others said the incident exposed a training gap for volunteers and suggested improved orientation for board and commission members so they understand distinctions between private conversation and official role. The city attorney advised the council that he had not received a formal written complaint and that the attorney's office represents the city, not an individual public officer under the cited statute; he also noted the chair could retain private counsel or ask the council to appoint counsel.

After the matter went to executive session and the council reconvened, no public action was taken on the agenda item. The council asked staff to follow up if and when formal documentation of a complaint is filed.

The council's discussion underscored tensions between protecting volunteer participation and ensuring that appointees do not undermine public trust. The city attorney said a formal complaint would be necessary to trigger predetermined hearing steps and that, absent documentation, council members preferred gathering facts before making a disciplinary decision.