Georgetown council adopts new transparency rules for board appointments, tables one water‑board reappointment

The Georgetown City Council voted to tighten transparency around board appointments and reappointments and to postpone one contentious water‑board reappointment during its Nov. 24 meeting.

Mayor Bernie Jenkins walked the council through a multi‑item list of appointments and described his approach to selecting volunteers, saying he looks for people who “fit that particular job for that particular committee.” Council members repeatedly asked for resumes and clearer public information before votes; several members said the current application and notification process was unclear.

A council motion—moved and seconded during the meeting—requires that future appointments and reappointments be accompanied by updated resumes or short biographies, include previous appointment history when relevant, and improve the website and application timeline to give the public clearer notice. Council approved the package motion by voice vote.

Council also approved multiple reappointments that night, including Frank Allen (Board of Adjustments), Virginia Teague (Board of Adjustments), Renee Clossey Upton (Board of Ethics), Patricia Harmon (Georgetown Housing Authority Board of Commissioners), April Baker (Human Rights Commission), Jason Beard (Georgetown Municipal Water & Sewer Service Board), and Kent Chandler (GMWSS new appointment). During the GMWSS discussion, members raised concerns about Jeff Clark’s total prior service on the board; the council voted to table his reappointment until staff provides records on how many terms he has served and other background information. That item will return to the Dec. 8 agenda.