HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 16-089RESOLUTION NO. 16-089
WHEREAS, on or about December 18, 2015, the City of Beaumont received
notice under the Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act (TRFRA), Tex. Civ. Prac. &
Rem. Code, Section 110.001, et seq., of an alleged violation; and,
WHEREAS, Sergeant Burt Moore, Officer Tony Harding, Sergeant Barry
Scarborough, and Detective Anthony Goudeau, as representatives of the Faith and
Fellowship Bible Study group, alleged that their free exercise of religion was being
substantially burdened by not allowing the holding of voluntary bible studies at the
Beaumont Police Department; and,
WHEREAS, by letter dated January 4, 2016, the City of Beaumont remedied the
substantial burden by indicating to the officers that they could continue their bible
studies in the manner they had in the past on their lunch hours or other break times in
any available break room or conference room; and,
WHEREAS, on or about May 3, 2016, the City of Beaumont received another
notice that an individual Council member allegedly approached an officer instructing him
to stop using the internal email system for notices of their bible studies; and,
WHEREAS, the action of a single Council member acting alone is not an
exercise of governmental authority binding the City of Beaumont;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED
BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT-
THAT in order to clarify the remedy extended as a cure pursuant to Tex. Civ. Prac. &
Rem. Code, Section 110.006(e), it is stated as follows:
THAT the statements and findings set out in the preamble to this Resolution are
hereby, in all things, approved and adopted; and,
THAT the Faith and Fellowship Bible Study be and it is hereby extended the
ability to continue their bible study in the manner they had in the past on their lunch
hours or other break times in any available break room or conference room; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT they are also allowed to access the internal
email system of the Beaumont Police Department to provide notice of the bible studies.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL of the City of Beaumont this the 17th day of
May, 2016.
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