Charter commission to take proposed form‑of‑government to public town halls after drafting review

The Haslet Charter Commission reviewed draft Article II language for a proposed home‑rule charter and agreed to bring the formulation to the public for feedback. Subcommittee chair Chuck presented the draft and responded to questions about the role and title of an executive and the budgetary tradeoffs that could accompany either a city administrator or a city manager.

Why it matters: The choice of form of government would define responsibilities for the executive position who prepares the annual budget and a five‑year capital plan. Commissioners debated whether to keep the existing city administrator title or transition to a city manager with different qualifications and compensation.

Key points: Chuck’s subcommittee suggested a merit‑based administrator/manager supported by an independent auditor. Committee members discussed staggering terms and associated turnout effects (elections held concurrently with mayoral races tend to draw higher turnout). A proposed preference for three‑year council terms (versus two years) drew support from several members who said shorter terms keep officials perpetually campaigning.

Outreach and logistics: Commissioners agreed to host town‑hall sessions to present materials and gather input. The outreach plan includes pre‑posting draft materials on the city website, using QR codes or apps (e.g., Slido) to collect and prioritize public questions, limiting presentations to about 90 minutes and providing a public comment card process. Potential venues discussed included the current meeting facility (capacity cited at about 103 without tables/chairs), Grace Point church, Northwest ISD facilities (noted as requiring advanced notice), and larger rooms near Alliance Airport; outdoor, covered options were also considered.

Quote: Chuck said the draft "is a brilliant piece of work" and urged presenting it to the public so citizens can accept, reject or recommend changes.

Next steps: The commission tentatively targeted September for the first town‑hall session, asked subcommittees to finalize presentation materials and communications to neighborhood HOAs, and planned rehearsals prior to public events.

Ending: Members emphasized transparency, advancing draft language only after internal cleanup and then seeking broad public input before any final charter placement on the ballot.