H-GAC board member says some members are avoiding Agenda 21 issue

Judge Bilski says not fair

Jay Blazek Crossley, Sep 19, 12.

Many members of the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) board missed the recent board meeting reportedly to avoid having to vote on the record relating to the Agenda 21 conspiracy theory, according to Guidry News:

The Houston-Galveston Area Council Board of Directors today voted to negotiate with BBC Research & Consulting of Denver for consulting services to support the fair housing portion of the Sustainable Communities Planning Grant; and to approve several contracts with firms for case studies in the various communities involved in the project.

Before the votes, several residents of the region spoke in opposition to the project. Listen

“I’m not standing up here as Chicken Little, running around here hollering ‘the sky is falling’,” said John Bentley. “Agenda 21 is not a theory; sustainable development is not a theory. These are facts.”

...

Following Taebel’s presentation, Austin County Judge Carolyn Bilski, commented on the controversy over the sustainability issue and chastised those members who did not attend the meeting.

“I am very disappointed and concerned that we have a large group of people who I think have devoted a lot of time to try to understand what our mission is here and what our agenda is,” said Judge Bilski. “All of us who participate in local government know how much work it is. It takes you away from your families, it takes you away from your aging parents; but you do it because it’s really a ministry in its own way.”

Bilski talked about the importance of planning by government officials throughout the years, which has resulted in provisions for women, fair housing, and people with disabilities and other special needs; and she was critical of the members of the board who were not in attendance.

“I remember when we used to have to bring in chairs,” she said. “I see board members not even coming anymore because they don’t want to be part of this controversy. They are afraid of the election consequences and that’s not fair to those of us who are here and have gotten up at 5:30 in the morning to get here.”

“Judge, with all due respect, we’ve asked for an up or down vote (on sustainable development) and it’s been denied by Mr. Steele and Ms. Martin,” said Brazoria County Commissioner Stacy Adams, referring to a request by Galveston County Commissioner Ken Clark at the previous meeting.