Paiva left the meeting before the vote took place. Community Impact contacted Paiva for comment Nov. 21, but did not receive a response as of press time.
What’s happening
Censure refers to a formal reprimand of a board member’s behavior, but it does not strip Paiva of his position as an ESD 9 commissioner, board President Naressa MacKinnon said in a statement at the Nov. 20 meeting.
The censure comes one month after the board voted Oct. 20 to file a complaint against Paiva with the Harris County district attorney’s office to investigate allegations of unauthorized expenditures, collusion and Texas Open Meetings Act violations, according to previous Community Impact reporting.
MacKinnon said the censure represents the board’s dedication to accountability and professionalism.
“I want this to be clear, this is not a personal action,” MacKinnon said in the statement. “This is procedural. It is about restoring order, reaffirming expectations and ensuring this board can do its job without obstruction, hostility or disruption.”
What they're saying
Commissioners Bevin Gordon, Cameron Dickey and Jaime Martinez also voiced support for the censure during the meeting.
“In the conversations we’ve had publicly [and] in [consultation] with people who can counsel us ... it is clear to me that Commissioner Paiva has violated our policies, any conventional standard with board ethics and his oath of office,” Dickey said.
Martinez alleged Paiva made unilateral decisions without board consent.
“I always try to see the good side of people, the good intentions,” Martinez said. “I can say in the case of Commissioner Paiva, he came to agreements with entities without coming to the board first.”
What’s next?
Dickey said the board will provide updates from the DA’s office in upcoming ESD 9 meetings as more information becomes available.
The next regular ESD 9 board meeting is scheduled for Dec. 18 in the CFFD Administration Building at 10710 Telge Road, Houston.
