The Pecos City Council on Wednesday, May 20, 2025, approved an amendment to the Pecos Housing Finance Corporationarticles of incorporation to add the mayor and all council members to the corporationboard and to retain the existing board members as directors, council records show. The council approved the motion by voice vote during open session after an executive session under Texas Government Code 551.071.

The change was presented and voted on after a public comment period in which residents, clients of the housing program and program staff urged the council not to disrupt the corporationor its work. Jeremy Ramontes, project coordinator for Pecos Housing Financial Corporation, told the council the program "benefits the poorest of the poor" and brought two clients to speak about repairs the program has provided.

The amendment to the articles of incorporation will expand the corporationboard to include the mayor and city council members alongside existing directors; the motion was moved and seconded and carried by voice vote, with the record stating "the motion carries." The council did not record a roll-call tally in the minutes included in the meeting transcript. During the meeting the mayor stated, "The program's gonna continue. We're not stopping the program."

Supporters described the program as providing home repairs and other aid to low-income residents. Elijah, introduced by Ramontes, told the council, "I like it because I, you know, I have a big family...he really helps us out because, you know, the house we live in wasn't the best." Rhonda Vega, who identified herself as Elijah's mother, said she bought her home in 2019 and that the program repaired a leaking roof and other hazards: "They put a new roof in. They put new windows, and they fixed my electricity because my electricity wasn't very good."

Several speakers urged the council to preserve local control of program funds and to continue the corporation's work. Rosie Salcedo, who identified herself as the wife of John Salcedo, faulted recent council remarks about the program and its director and said the corporation had helped many families: "We voted for you. Step it up," she told the council. Other public commenters raised questions about transparency and the size of potential funding; one commenter said he had seen references to "$20,000,000" in connection with the program and asked for more public discussion.

Council members initially moved into executive session citing Texas Government Code 551.071 for consultation with the city attorney. The meeting record notes Councilman Saldana left the meeting during executive session at 6:43 p.m. The council returned to open session and then voted on the articles amendment.

A separate agenda item to amend the Pecos Housing Finance Corporation bylaws was considered later in the meeting. Councilman Rona moved to table the bylaws amendment and Councilwoman Trujillo seconded; the council approved the motion to table the bylaws amendment to a future meeting. The mayor and council did not adopt any bylaws changes at the May 20 meeting.

The council adjourned at 7:47 p.m. The record does not show the detailed vote tally for the articles amendment; the transcript records a voice vote and that "the motion carries." The bylaws amendment will return for further consideration at a later date.