The Commissioners Court discussed Tuesday where to put signs on county property concerning the new Open Carry Law in Texas. Assistant County Attorney Doug Manning said the new gun carrying law is still being interpreted by the courts. Manning recommended the Commissioners Court post signs where needed, but that they be judicious because the new law is still being interpreted by judicial courts and Orange County does not want to be the first to go to court because of posting an area that does not qualify. He added the Commissioners could always add them later.
After more than twenty minutes discussing the locations County Judge Brint Carlton made the motion where signs should be posted prohibiting the carrying of firearms. Carlton moved that the jail have a sign for clarification purposes since it is already prohibited to carry a firearm there. Other locations cited by Carlton were all entrances to the Orange County Courthouse building, adult probation, juvenile probation, all justice of the peace offices, the county judge’s office, and the commissioners courtroom whenever it is in session would have signs posting no possession of firearms. The Court unanimously approved the judge’s recommendations.
Commissioners also approved a policy that would prohibit county personnel from interfering with anyone lawfully carrying a handgun on county property which Judge Carlton will have distributed to all county offices. An area that will not be posted and is permissible for the carrying of firearms now is Claiborne West Park. The Orange County Convention and Expo Center will also allow the possession of firearms, but may be restricted in certain areas when and where alcohol is being sold or served on the premises during public events.
Disagreements abounded during the Court session concerning county employee vacation leave, health insurance for newly hired county employees, and longevity pay for county employees. First to be discussed was whether to make any changes to the county’s vacation policy. County Judge Carlton was in favor of changing the current policy. Carlton said that the current policy gives employees all their vacation leave in the first of the year and there was a discussion to divide the paid leave between January and July. Carlton did make a motion to reduce the maximum weeks of annual vacation for employees hired after January 1 from six weeks to four weeks for employees with more than 20 years service. The motion was defeated 3-2 with only Commissioner Jody Crump supporting the judge in his motion. Commissioner Barry Burton did say he would like to look into it a little bit more so Carlton believes the issue may come up again.
The health insurance policy concerning employees hired after January 1 of this year was discussed, but was tabled until next week’s meeting. Department heads Mary Johnson and Christy Khoury were is disagreement in the figuring of longevity pay for employees. With payroll due in less than a week the Court agreed to pay using the current system which Johnson opposed, but requested new Human Resource director Lori Audoin to develop a policy to address the conflicting methods of determining the amount of longevity pay owed employees especially those that are retiring.
Commissioner Barry Burton was approved to replace David Dubose on the Board of Directors for the Orange County Economic Development Corporation. Dubose is entering his last year on the Commissioners Court and Burton has worked closely with County Judge Carlton in revising the Economic Development Corporation. Both were the only Court members to vote to continue funding the EDC in July when the county like several other entities cut funding to it.
The Commissioners Court also recognized the West Orange-Stark Mustangs as the state champions in football with a proclamation. The Court approved the use of the courthouse parking lot as a staging area for the parade honoring the Mustangs this coming Sunday afternoon.
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