By Ray King
A member of the Jefferson County Quorum Court on Wednesday asked County Judge Gerald Robinson to appoint members of the Quorum Court to various committees as soon as possible.
According to a letter from Justice of the Peace Lloyd Franklin Jr., “committees play a crucial role in ensuring effective decision making and comprehensive evaluation of various topics that come before the Quorum Court.”
Franklin and other members of the county’s legislative body have been critical of the chairmen of the various committees, all of whom were selected by Robinson and who have in the past voted for his initiatives.
The request comes a day after Robinson vetoed a package of ordinances that were approved by the Quorum Court in a meeting that Robinson described as “illegal” because the ordinances were not adopted individually but as a group. Also, Robinson opposed a policies and procedures ordinance adopted by seven members of the Quorum Court during a meeting in June when they continued to meet after Robinson had adjourned the meeting because there was no agreement on a policies and procedures ordinance.
That ordinance, according to Prosecuting Attorney S. Kyle Hunter, “is law until overturned by a court of law.” Robinson has filed a lawsuit against the members of the Quorum Court contending they are usuring power granted to the county judge by state statute.
