The Leander City Council on May 17 granted the city's Ethics Commission a 30-day extension to make a recommendation on allegations against outgoing Mayor John Cowman.

The City Council on April 5 referred a list of alleged ethics violations against Cowman to the Ethics Commission. Allegations filed by Mayor Pro Tem David Siebold claim that Cowman used his city-issued cell phone for campaigning purposes, attempted to sway the vote on certain matters and was illegally reimbursed for mileage incurred while driving a city vehicle, among other claims.

The Ethics Commission met May 9 with four of the committee's five members present. No action was taken because no four-vote super-majority was reached on any of Siebold's allegations. The commission will meet in the next two weeks to weigh in on remaining allegations against Cowman, according to Leander City Manager Kent Cagle.

The council voted unanimously to grant the 30-day extension, with Cowman abstaining from the vote. The May 17 meeting is Cowman's last full meeting before Place 5 Councilman and Mayor-elect Chris Fielder is sworn in May 31.