Former Bellaire Mayor Cindy Siegel has been appointed to the METRO Board of Directors as a small city representative.
Nine of the 14 mayors of the multi-cities in the METRO service area met Tuesday to discuss appointing Siegel to the position. Eight of the mayors voted in favor of appointing her and one mayor abstained.
Siegel was the only person who was considered for the position.
“I’m excited. I’m looking forward to it,” Sigel said. “I’m honored that the mayors selected me.”
Siegel told InstantNewsBellaire several months ago that she was considering expressing interest in the position. In December, Siegel told the news organization that the board was aware of her desire to be appointed as a small city representative on METRO’s board of directors.
Siegel will take over the position currently held by Jim Stewart, who is term limited, on April 1.
From now until then, Siegel said she will attend an orientation, work with Stewart and attend METRO board meetings until she takes over the position and can “hit the ground running.”
Two members are appointed to the board by the mayors of the 14 multi-cities in the METRO service area. Stewart, along with former West U Mayor Burt Ballanfant, currently holds those positions.
Siegel said that to her knowledge there wasn’t any opposition from the multi-city mayors about both the small city representatives being from West U and Bellaire. She said she has worked with most of the mayors for eight years and they know that she’ll represent everyone.
“I think that they trust that I’ll do that … and make sure their concerns are met,” she said.
West U Mayor Bob Fry told the news organization that he would “absolutely” support her and made the motion on Tuesday that she be appointed to the board.
Siegel said the biggest issue for the mayors and the cities they represent is that the METRO mobility funds continue to help the small cities. Siegel said the continuation of the general mobility fund will come to voters prior to 2014.
METRO formed an agreement in 1999 to give the cities a “general mobility fund,” which is 25 percent of METRO’s portion of the sales tax. The cities, which contribute one percent of their sales tax to METRO, can use the funds for street improvements and transit projects.
Communities that are part of the METRO area include the cities of Houston, Bellaire, Bunker Hill Village, El Lago, Hedwig Village, Hilshire Village, Humble, Hunters Creek, Katy, Missouri City, Piney Point, Southside Place, Spring Valley, Taylor Lake Village and West University Place. Major portions of unincorporated Harris County are also included.
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