Doug Moore was appointed to Sulphur Springs City Council Place 6 Tuesday night during the May regular session of the council.
City Attorney Jim McLeroy addressed the council regarding the proper procedure to fill the vacancy on the council created by the resignation of Councilman Dan Froneberger. McLeroy noted the Section 2 of the city charter: “If a vacancy occurs in the council the remaining members of the council, by a majority vote, shall appoint a qualified resident elector to serve until the next regular city election. At the next regular city election, a council member shall be chosen by the vote of the people to serve out the remainder of the term left vacant.” McLeroy told the council that they were to appoint someone to serve until the May, 2019 election and then Place 6 would be on that ballot and the ballot the following year since Place 6 would be rotate onto the ballot in 2020. Terms for city councilmen are three years. Due to staggered elections for various place, Place 6 is set for the May, 2020 ballot by rotation. In an 8-page opinion, McLeroy noted that in every instance of state law and that of other councils throughout Texas with a similar form of government noted in the opinion—Coppel, Lufkin, Commerce, Fate, Benbrook, and Big Spring—this is the rule of practice and the laws have been upheld in state and federal courts. The council, based on the legal opinion, moved forward to elect a new council member.
Several names were presented to the council of those who had expressed a desire to serve. Place 2 Councilman Clay Walker spoke to the nomination of Doug Moore and Place 4 Councilman Freddy Taylor spoke in recommendation of Brad Bergin. Five Councilpersons voted for Moore, one for Bergin.
In nominating Moore, Walker noted Moore is qualified for the council by experience and training. Moore is a Certified Public Accountant and has been in business in the city for a number of years. He is now semi-retired according to Walker. Moore has served on the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Industrial Foundation. The final vote to appoint Moore to the council was unanimous.
Moore will take the oath of office in June and serve until May, 2019. At that time Place 6 will be on the ballot for the remainder of the term to which Froneberger was elected. Place 6 will be on the ballot the following year according to the rotation of election of council members.
In other action, Mayor John Sellers proclaimed May 6-12 National Hospital Week in the city and he named May as Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month for the city. A rate increase for Oncor was denied by the council. Two plats, one plat for 826 Camp Street and another for the Hopkins County Hospital District, were approved by the council.
