Residents and council members press for audits after contested spending and hiring

Multiple speakers at the Prairie View City Council meeting urged greater fiscal transparency and called for audits of past spending and hiring practices.

Resident David Allen asked that the memorandum of understanding with the local Economic Development Corporation include dollar figures and warned the council not to approve a ‘blank check.’ He raised several finance concerns, including a $600,000 public-works shortfall and flagged a $115,000 water-tower contract and a $190,000 legal-fee payment as items the council should review. “I would ask that y'all look into that to be sure,” Allen said, urging a forensic audit or investigation if appropriate.

Council member James also criticized a recent council retreat held at a downtown Houston hotel and demanded an accounting of the costs. He alleged instances of intimidation by the mayor, saying at one meeting the mayor told him “he was gonna hurt me and remove me from the parks and rec committee” and that he planned to pursue charges; the council did not adjudicate those allegations during the meeting. Later in the evening, after executive session, the council voted to retain Feldman & Feldman to analyze the city’s legal bills and attorney fees; the motion carried after a roll-call division and the mayor cast the deciding vote.