P&Z Commissioner Kay should apologize or resign

On a personal level, I really like Planning & Zoning Commissioner Timothy Kay. I have enjoyed some illuminating conversations with him not only at P&Z meetings but on those occasions when I have run into him while shopping at the H-E-B. At heart, I think Kay’s a really good fella.

But near the end of last night’s Planning and Zoning Commission, Kay went on a tirade that was embarrassing at best and insulting to the city’s and the commission’s customers at worst. He needs to take the time to either publically apologize at the next P&Z meeting or tender his resignation from the commission.

Kay’s inconsiderate and uncalled for rant stemmed from the fact that P&Z’s Dec. 8 meeting was cancelled at the last possible second due to the lack of a quorum. Only three of the seven commissioners showed up.

"The fact that we did not have a quorum last meeting, we were criticized for that," Kay said from the dias at last night’s meeting. He then related a tragic story of a relative who died of cancer that, while heartbreaking, was totally irrelevant.

‘To have anyone criticize any one of us or all of us for not having a quorum just feels wrong," Kay concluded.

No, Commissioner Kay, it’s not wrong. When you agreed to serve on the Planning & Zoning Commission, you assumed the role, whether you like it or not, whether it’s convenient or not, of a Public Servant.

I’m not saying there’s never a legitimate reason for a commissioner to miss a meeting every now and then and Kay’s excuse certainly seemed more than legitimate. But one commissioner missing a meeting and not having a quorum are two different things entirely and then to say it’s wrong for people to "criticize any one of us or all of us for not having a quorum" is an insult to that public you are supposed to be serving.

Those members of that public who are requesting action from the commissioners are expecting some form of action on those requests when they appear on the agenda. For them to show up to City Hall -- and a few of them I know have driven more than 200 miles to make an appearance -- only to learn just as the meeting is supposed to take place that it has been cancelled for lack of a quorum invites criticism and you better well just accept that fact. To say that these people don’t have the right to criticize the fact that you completely wasted their time is a shameful insult.

After last night’s meeting I overheard a conversation between Planning and Community Development Director Howard J. Koontz and P&Z Commissioner Michelle Christie, both of whom apparently are major hockey buffs. Koontz was telling Christie how he had purchased upgraded Amtrak tickets to ride the train to Dallas to see an NHL game at the American Airlines Center. Imagine how he might feel if, after he had not only purchased the train tickets, but game tickets and made his hotel reservations, that he learned shortly after entering the arena that the game had been cancelled because not enough players showed up to put a complete team on the ice. You think Koontz might be critical? Of course he would. He would have every right to be critical. But not according to Commissioner Kay, who believes the needs of commissioners far outweigh those of the customers and the public the Planning & Zoning Commission is supposed to be serving and representing.

Well, maybe, he doesn’t really believe that. And if that’s the case he should apologize for saying he did. But if he does really believe it, he needs to offer his resignation immediately.