EDC president and director resign, board discusses future

Bandera EDC President Billy Greeson and Director Barbara Poss tendered their resignations last week, Greeson doing so in the wake of a contentious meeting last week.

Greeson, whose resignation is effective immediately, told the Bulletin he was disappointed to have seen little effort and money put into economic growth projects during his time with the EDC. Greeson joined the board a year ago and was elected president last December.

“My time and energy can be better spent on other projects to improve Bandera,” Greeson said, adding the large amount of time wasted on “politics” made him rethink.

Poss, who was not in attendance at that meeting, said she had decided to resign in December 2022 but Greeson talked her into remaining on the board for a few more months.

“I joined the Board in August of 2022 but found the commitment of time necessary to fully participate in the EDC a concern,” she said. “I am starting a new business of my own and managing a thriving fitness studio.”

The most contentious agenda item was discussion regarding an agreement to share the services of a specialist position between the City of Bandera and the EDC.

Greeson opened the floor to discussion of the hiring process but cautioned against discussion of specific skills of individual applicants. He clarified the EDC would not directly hire the employee.

Director Elaine Good remarked EDC bylaws had provisions for the shared services process and recommended the group review those clauses closely.

“What we have done here does not reflect what this is saying to do, from what I interpret it to be,” said Good, adding she was concerned about the proportion of time a city employee would spend on EDC business.

“Do we want someone within the city doing dual roles?” she asked. “I see a conflict with it.”

President Greeson said, “It was very clear that there was a qualified candidate who was more than capable of doing the job. We discussed very clearly the boundaries that would be set to make sure that the individual would not be doing any work for the EDC and city at the same time. The agreement was that we would pay the city for a set number of hours and her base pay not including all of the benefits and everything else included in it We would transfer that payment to the city monthly.”

City Administrator William Cox reiterated the shared services agreement had not yet been approved, and if the EDC decided to go in a different direction, they could investigate hiring a standalone administrative assistant.

When asked why the EDC did not interview, Cox reiterated city and EDC attorneys had reviewed the shared services agreement, adding the agreement was for services and not a specific employee.

Cox said that although the role is about 80 percent city-related with salary paid for entirely by the city, half of the employee’s time has been spent on getting things in order for the EDC, according to Cox.

“This is nothing new here,” commented Director Allan Arterbury.

City Councilman Lynn Palmer, who was in the audience, said the city secretary was directed in the past to help with the EDC. She also said a previous city administrator had stopped the practice of sharing employees with the EDC when he came on as new administrator.

Greeson noted all eight candidates had been contacted by email.

“So that was where the problem lies,” said Director Andrea Jankoski. “We were not even given the opportunity to see the applications. You acted on behalf of this board and decided for us that that was the only avenue to pursue for an administrative assistant.”

Greeson responded he felt he had worked within the scope of EDC bylaws.

Jankoski also asked how the salary had been determined, to which Greeson said if there was no confidence in EDC leadership he’d be glad to step aside and let someone else take over the responsibility.

Director Alan Arterbury characterized previous EDC boards as a circular firing squad.

“Don’t step into that again,” he said. “And nothing here is out of the parameters of what we have done previously. The budget was set, we know how much we need to spend, and a qualified person has been secured.

Vice President Laura Devenport asked for the opportunity to review the applications, including the current specialist’s application.

“We still need to interview those persons and see who the best fit for the EDC would be. I just think that is a transparent thing to do,” she said.

Jankoski presented a motion to not proceed with an agreement with the City of Bandera for shared resources and to instead review other applicants in addition to the shared resources agreement with the city.

Devenport seconded the motion. Directors Jankoski, Lindsay Barnett, Elaine Good and Laura Devenport voted in favor; Director Arterbury and President Greeson opposed.

Additional EDC Business

In other business, the board heard a presentation from Bandera Business Association President Cindy Beckham about paying Cowboys on Main and the Bandera Cattle Company Gunfighters monthly and not by the performance.

The board voted to approve a January 1 payment start date and asked each individual performer to provide the city a copy of their individual insurance cards.

William Cox noted the EDC could not vote to allocate funds outside of the current fiscal year. The EDC will be able to pay the performers until the end of September 2023, the end of the City’s fiscal year.

The EDC listens to a presentation by Cowboys on Main representative Roy Dugosh, who asked the EDC to provide more benches in the park to accomodate more visitors.

The board discussed the placement and construction of protective bollards around way-finding signage located at the EDC parking lot on the corner of Cedar and 11th Street.

Cox recommended a professional company be secured to construct and place those bollards. The board appointed Director Alan Arterbury to investigate the cost of new bollards.

Property owned by the EDC on the corner of Maple and 10th Street was proposed for rezoning. The Board voted to request the zoning change from residential to parking. Currently, the lot is used mostly by park entrants pulling horse trailers.

The board discussed possible action on potential grants. The Rural Economic Development Pilot Grant could provide significant funds to assist the city. However, no list of projects was provided at the initial ZOOM meeting to possible participants.

The EDC meets once a month and convenes next Monday, April 24 at 6 p.m.