Mineola City Council members will no longer serve on appointed city boards and commissions.

The council approved the change in the council ethics policy Monday on a unanimous vote.

Member Sue Jones was absent. Jones serves on the Landmark Commission and the Marketing Advisory Board, and Councilman Eric Carrington has previously served on the parks board.

He said he asked the question when he was appointed to the council to fill a vacancy whether there was a conflict of interest.

City Manager Mercy Rushing said it is not illegal but does create a perception of conflict.

Rushing and Mayor Jayne Lankford suggested the policy grandfather the current appointments until those terms expire.

In bringing the matter to the council it was noted that council members had been intended as liaisons for the board, but city staff members now fill that role.

“It makes the council appear more objective when they vote on recommendations presented by the boards because the public knows the boards were able to deliberate freely when making those recommendations,” the background information stated.

In another matter related to city boards, the council approved a motion that allowed the city ordinances to be cleaned up, discarding boards that are no longer active or needed.

A bid of $75,375 to Smith Builders and Developers was approved for the Mineola Historical Museum to address flooding issues in the former post office’s basement.

The project is funded with federal COVID relief dollars.

The council canceled the May 6 election as no positions are being contested.

A replat of land south of Tractor Supply was approved, with 3.3 acres fronting U.S. 69 planned for commercial development and 6.13 acres to be designated as multi-family development.

A zoning change will be sought later.

The project is adjacent to the Park Central housing development off Old Tyler Highway.

A series of increases to park user fees was adopted. The last increase was in 2014.

Most of the fees which were a $50 deposit and $100 usage were raised to $75 or $100 deposit and $150 usage, with the main pavilion at the nature preserve going to a $250 user fee.

Street closures were approved for the Music in May program on S. Johnson St. at Commerce on Thursdays in May and possibly into June. It began last year with seven dates.

The chamber of commerce is sponsoring a new event, Savor on the Bricks, on Tuesday, May 16 along N. Johnson St. with several local restaurants participating.

Rushing announced that three city projects had gained funding from the Meredith Foundation: $193,500 for new police and fire radios, $38,000 for museum operations and $25,000 for marketing sesquicentennial activities.