Taylor City Council will hold a public hearing this week about a policy that could limit city leaders’ influence after leaving their roles.
City Manager Brian LaBorde will present an ordinance that would establish a “Revolving Door Policy” during the Thursday, March 28 meeting.
According to the meeting’s agenda packet, the Revolving Door Policy prevents former officials from influencing Taylor decisions for two years after finishing their office or employment.
“Some communities have in place a policy that provides regulations which restricts lobbying and engagement from former employees,” staff analysis reads. “This policy helps to mitigate the opportunity for and appearance of self-interested action by former city officials and employees, while not restricting employment of former city employees.”
The potential ordinance draft said that the policy would not prohibit the individual from receiving compensation or representing a person as long as it is not a city issue or regarding city business.
Similarly, the City Council can vote to approve a former official being involved with city business if their “representation or compensation would benefit the city or not harm the city’s interest.”
The Revolving Door Policy would apply to former mayors, council members or city employees at or higher than the level of department director.
Any bid, contract offer or lease would be disqualified, according to the agenda packet.
The agenda said the city’s recommendation is to simply conduct a first reading of the ordinance during Thursday’s meeting and consider adoption during the Thursday, April 11 meeting.
In other business, city leaders will:
• Hold a public hearing and introduce an ordinance regarding requests to change place type zoning at four different lots.
• Receive the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for Fiscal Year 2023.
• Receive presentation with direction to staff from Randall Scott Architects on proposed site plan of Justice Center.
Taylor City Council regularly meets the second and fourth Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 400 Porter St. in Taylor. Agendas and live broadcasts are available at http://www.taylortx.gov.
