Abilene MPO approves bylaws change to add representation after Callahan County expansion

The Abilene Metropolitan Planning Organization policy board voted to amend its bylaws to add representation after the MPO boundary expansion into Callahan County and to clarify how tie votes are resolved.

Staff explained the update is intended to "increase representation on the policy board and in addition on the technical advisory committee," and said the TAC could expand by as many as six members while the policy board would expand by one. The amendment also "codified in the bylaws what... that situation"—that a tie fails for lack of a majority, staff said. Board members discussed quorum language for the TAC and agreed to change quorum to a majority of seated/participating TAC members rather than a fixed number. One board member noted the prior April vote had failed to meet the bylaws' 0.667 threshold when only three of five voted in favor, which prompted the revised motion.

Committee member moved to modify and accept the amended bylaws, a board member seconded, and the board approved the changes by voice vote. The motion formalizes two procedural points: added representation linked to Callahan County joining the MPO boundary, and explicit wording that tie votes do not pass because they lack a majority.

The board did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript. The amendment returns the bylaws to the board for implementation; staff said invitations will be extended to prospective TAC members and the MPO will not require attendance from invitees.