The Independence County Quorum Court convened to conduct March business Monday evening.
Among agenda items discussed, an old business item from February concerning on whether a vacant district court clerk position can be filled or whether the position should be eliminated. The item spurred the court, County Attorney Daniel Haney, and District Court Judge Chaney Taylor in a lengthy debate on whether the authority lies with the quorum court to take any action allowing Judge Taylor to fill the position.
According to information presented by Haney, the quorum court has the authority to alter the budget, but the court cannot authorize the hiring to fill the vacant position.
Ordinance 2021-07, which appeared on February’s agenda and was tabled after a similar discussion, aims to dissolve the position and reappropriate the funds elsewhere within the county budget.
The court ultimately decided to give all involved parties time to gather information and evidence to either support the decision of appropriating the funds elsewhere or leaving the funds intact for the position.
Further discussion on the matter will take place at a budget committee meeting on March 29.
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