Crockett council hires outside law firm to lead charter revision

CrockettCity Council voted to hire an outside law firm to lead a comprehensive charter revision that staff and council say is overdue.

City staff presented a single responsive proposal and introduced the firmrepresentative, who identified himself as Charlie Zech. Zech told the council his firm, Denton, Nevada, Rocio Bernal, and Zech, has represented local governments since 1998 and has worked on multiple charter adoptions and revisions across Texas. "All we do is represent local governments," he said, describing experience with charters, initiative and referendum matters, and charter interpretation.

Council members said the charter has had piecemeal changes over decades that now conflict in places and that professional help would ensure the document is legally compliant and internally consistent. Staff and one councilmember discussed cost estimates: Zechand staff identified a high-end estimate of roughly $21,000 to $25,000, while the city's prior consultant work had been about $15,000; staff argued city attorney time for the same scope could cost more in staff hours.

A motion to select the firm and to authorize entering an agreement (with the mayor to sign the engagement letter) passed by voice vote. Council outlined the next steps: the appointed commission will work with the firm and staff to prepare draft charter language or amendments, the commission will present a final document to council for review, council may send it back for revisions, and any charter changes ultimately would go to voters with ballot language for each change.

Councilors said they expect multiple layers of review and public hearings before any changes appear on a ballot. The council did not yet set a firm budget contingency beyond the proposalestimate, and staff said the commission and council would return with more detailed timelines and draft language for further consideration.