CITY COUNCIL APPROVES 2015-2016 BUDGET

  

The Brenham City Council voted to adopt the fiscal year 2015-2016 budget on its second reading when it met at its regular meeting on Thursday afternoon. The Council also approved on its second reading to levy taxes for the tax year 2015 for the City of Brenham at 47.31 cents per $100 dollar valuation.

The lone dissenting vote was from Councilman Danny Goss.

The council also approved amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Brenham to grant a Specific Use Permit to True Believers Christian Fellowship Church to allow for the church and its auxiliary the use of a property located on Clay Street.

On the Work Session Agenda was a presentation and discussion on firearms and recent legislation concerning the open carry of handguns.

During the 2015 Legislative Session, the Texas Legislature passed House Bill 910, which allows a concealed handgun license hold to “open carry” in a belt or should holster beginning on January 1st of next year. The council will discuss how the new handgun law affects City buildings and various activities.  As part of the legislation, the concealed and/or open carry of a firearm into a meeting that is subject to the Open Meetings Act must be prohibited by the Council by the enactment of a Resolution.

Currently, the only place that handguns are prohibited are government courtrooms, polling places and any meeting designated as a meeting place under the “Open Meetings Act.”

City Secretary Jeana Bellinger remarked that there was a lot of back and forth on the open carry issue and where firearms would and would not be allowed.

The issue will be brought up again at the next City Council meeting.

Council also approved the Reconciliation and final payment to Collier Construction LLC for the Chappell Hill Street Extension Project.

There were also Service Recognitions for Chris Jackson of the Brenham Police Department, for 15 years of service, Linda Mooney, 20 years in the Utility Billing Department, and Lionel Moore, 30 years in the Transfer Station. There was also a Recognition of Service for Todd Jacobs of the Brenham Police Department for 25 years of service.