Austin's 1878 Council Attendance Struggles
• Attendance problems plagued two consecutive council meetings (Feb. 22-23) with multiple aldermen absent, forcing the marshal to physically bring absentees to the sessions.
• Quorum calls were used to enforce attendance, with council members voting to demand absent aldermen appear before suspending the enforcement measures.
• Meetings were briefly adjourned with the first session on February 22 adjourning shortly after addressing attendance issues, suggesting the council struggled to conduct business.
Full Transcript
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Called Meeting of City Council February 22, 1878 Council called to order at 7.45 P.M. Mayor De Gress in the chair Roll called and the following Members Answered. Alderman Brow. Brooker Markley and Strong Absent. Aldermen Miller Millett, Metz. Halle Platt and Sheehan Alderman Brooker moved a call of the Council Call sustained and the Marshal was directed to bring in the absentees Alderman Metz came in and answered On Motion of Alderman Brow. the call of the Council was suspended On Motion of Alderman Brow the Council adjourned Approved April 1st 1878 [signature] John L. [illegible] City Clerk [signature]
Called Meeting of City Council February 23d 1878 Council called to order at 2.40 P.M. Mayor De Gress in the Chair Roll called and the following Members Answered Aldermen Brow. Halle and Sheehan Absent. Aldermen Brooker. Miller. Millett. Markley Metz and Strong Alderman Halle. moved a call of the Council Call sustained and the Marshal was directed to bring in the absentees. Aldermen. Brooker. Strong. Metz and Platt came in and answered. Quorum present On Motion of Alderman Brooker the Call of the Council was suspended. His Honor the Mayor stated that he had