Council adopts amended censure resolution against mayor after heated public comment

A resolution to censure the mayor drew extended public comment at the Haslet City Council’s Dec. 19 special meeting, prompting the council to amend the measure and adopt it.

Councilman Carruthers introduced the resolution citing earlier meetings in which agenda requests were not placed as requested. Dozens of written comments and several residents spoke to the council both opposing and supporting the censure. Opponents argued the mayor has served the city and that the council’s effort to censure was politically motivated; supporters and the motion maker pointed to a pattern of agenda‑management issues and cited local procedural rules.

Several residents who sent letters or spoke in person urged the council not to single out the mayor when other council members’ conduct (including allegations about handling of interruptions and language used in meetings) had not been similarly addressed. Others said they supported the council’s effort to assert adherence to the city code on agenda notice and placement.

During deliberations, a councilmember proposed amending paragraph 4 of the resolution to list specific dates when alleged omissions had occurred; the mover specified dates to be added. That motion to adopt the resolution with the additional dates was seconded and recorded. The clerk recorded the motion as passing by the body (vote recorded as unanimous in the minutes), and council directed the mayor and clerk to sign the document for the record.

Ending: The resolution will be placed in the municipal record and the mayor was asked to sign the document; no sanctions beyond the formal censure were recorded in the meeting minutes.