Liberty County Development Authority member Graylan Quarterman has gone on a one-year assignment in Kosovo, leaving behind an unanswered question about his seat on the LCDA.
Quarterman, a real estate specialist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, was absent from the August meeting of the LCDA, the first time the group discussed his request for a leave of absence. Quarterman's term on the authority ends in December 2010 and he wants to resume his seat on the authority when he returns from Kosovo.
LCDA CEO Ron Tolley said Quarterman had told authority members of his overseas assignment, though no record of it was made in the minutes.
The members agreed they have no power to grant a leave of absence.
Related questions stirred some sharp remarks from authority members. Brian Smith, acknowledging he had recently missed several meetings because of illness, said that the authority needed all its members available for meetings.
"Attendance is sometimes a problem," he said, adding, "I like Graylan and he makes a valuable contribution when he is here."
When he heard county commissioners had asked the authority for advice on the leave, Smith said, "The county has never asked us for advice on anything else, including who should serve on this board. I don't know why they would ask us about this."
There was further discussion, but the authority made no response to the commissioners' request.
The Liberty County Commission meets Tuesday, but no leave of absence is on the preliminary agenda. Neither state law nor the LCDA legislation mention granting leaves.
Quarterman, a real estate specialist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, was absent from the August meeting of the LCDA, the first time the group discussed his request for a leave of absence. Quarterman's term on the authority ends in December 2010 and he wants to resume his seat on the authority when he returns from Kosovo.
LCDA CEO Ron Tolley said Quarterman had told authority members of his overseas assignment, though no record of it was made in the minutes.
The members agreed they have no power to grant a leave of absence.
Related questions stirred some sharp remarks from authority members. Brian Smith, acknowledging he had recently missed several meetings because of illness, said that the authority needed all its members available for meetings.
"Attendance is sometimes a problem," he said, adding, "I like Graylan and he makes a valuable contribution when he is here."
When he heard county commissioners had asked the authority for advice on the leave, Smith said, "The county has never asked us for advice on anything else, including who should serve on this board. I don't know why they would ask us about this."
There was further discussion, but the authority made no response to the commissioners' request.
The Liberty County Commission meets Tuesday, but no leave of absence is on the preliminary agenda. Neither state law nor the LCDA legislation mention granting leaves.