City Secretary

Texas Municipal Clerks Office - Award of Excellence LogoThe role of a city secretary is similar to that of the secretary of state. The city secretary is the local official who maintains the integrity of the election process, ensures transparency and access to city records, facilitates the city's legislative process, and is the recorder of local government history. City secretaries act as local compliance officers for federal, state, and local statutes, including the Open Meetings Act and Public Information Act, and serve as the filing authority for campaign finance reports and financial disclosure statements.

Open Records

The City Secretary is the public information coordinator for the City of Bellmead. The City Secretary's Office is responsible for coordinating with all City Departments and ensuring that all Open Records Requests are processed in a timely manner in accordance with the Texas Public Information Act and city procedures.

Keep in mind a request for information is for documents that are already in existence. A governmental body is not required to answer questions, perform legal research or comply with a continuing request to supply information on a periodic basis as such information is prepared in the future.

The Public Information Act (PIA) generally requires a governmental body to release information to a requestor. However, if a governmental body determines the information is excepted from disclosure under the Public Information Act, then the request and information must be reviewed by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) Open Records Division (ORD). The ORD will issue a decision on whether the governmental body is permitted to withhold the requested information or if it must release the information to the requestor.

For police records, clink on the link for the Police Department page and form. 

Submit an open records request to request the information that you are seeking that is not a police record.

Ethics / Conflict Of Interest

Ethics

The conduct of Bellmead public officials is governed by the City Charter, Code of Ordinances, and state law. Members of the City Council and members of all other boards and commissions, appointed or confirmed by the City Council, must be knowledgeable of the City Charter, Code of Ordinances, and state law regarding ethics when participating in and making decisions while serving on a board or commission.

Conflict of Interest Disclosure

Chapter 176 of the Texas Local Government Code requires a local government officer to file a conflicts disclosure statement disclosing any business relationship with the City if they receive taxable income or gifts from any person or business that contracts with or is considering doing business with, the City.

Local government officers for the City of Bellmead are:

  • Mayor
  • Councilmembers
  • City Manager
  • Chief Financial Officer

The City Secretary processes all Conflict of Interest forms in accordance with the requirements of the Texas Ethics Commission.

Conflict of Interest Questionnaires

Section 176 of the Texas Local Government Code requires persons or entities that contract or seek to contract with the City for the sale or purchase of property, goods, or services to file a conflict of interest questionnaire disclosing affiliations or relationships that may cause a conflict of interest with the City.

Please refer to Chapter 176 of the Local Government Code for additional information regarding these requirements. The Conflict of Interest Questionnaire is available on the Texas Ethics Commission website.

Questions regarding conflict of interest questionnaires should be emailed to the City Secretary.

Commitment

The City Secretary's office is committed to efficiency, professionalism, treating the citizens of Bellmead with respect and trust, and serving them in a courteous, efficient, and effective manner.

Awards

The Texas Municipal Clerks Association awarded the City of Bellmead the Municipal Clerk's Office Achievement of Excellence Award for 2022 to 2023. To receive this award, the City Secretary's Office must be registered and certified as a Texas Municipal Clerk, be recognized by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission as the point of contact for city records, maintain the city's responsibility to be transparent through the public information act and the open meetings act, to uphold constitutional government and the laws of the community, remain neutral and impartial, rendering equal service to all; and to record that which is true and preserve that which is entrusted to the City Secretary's Office.

The City Secretary's Office recognizes the responsibility to the people, desiring to inspire public confidence and respect for government, and believing that honesty, integrity loyalty, and courtesy form the basis of ethical conduct.

This is the first time in the City's history that it has earned this award.