City Council seat swap comes to an end Monday

The game of musical chairs in El Paso City Council chambers is coming to an end.

Cortney Niland, the city representative who instigated the first move from her assigned seat, said she is stepping up and moving back to her original seat.

It’s been almost a year since Representatives Lily Limon and Niland shared space on the dais.

Next week, they’ll be back in close quarters.

“I was elected to represent this community,” Niland told ABC-7 Tuesday. “If I’m faced with challenges going forward, I’m going to have to figure out a way to effectively lead this community and serve them with the utmost respect.”

The chair swap began in Nov. 2013 when Niland asked the mayor via email if she could move seats due to unwanted touching and grabbing by Limon.

When asked about the allegations by Niland, Limon had said, “I’m totally baffled. I don’t know what to tell you. I wouldn’t be able to add anything to it.”

Niland ended up swapping with District 1 Rep. Ann Morgan Lilly. She later also asked to move.

The mayor recently asked Limon if she would scoot over a chair due to crowding on one end of the dais.

“Historically we’ve sat in a numerical order,” Limon told ABC-7 Oct. 14. “That seat is reserved for District 7. And that’s where I would want to stay.”

Niland told ABC-7 she met with Limon and Mayor Oscar Leeser Tuesday afternoon to tell them she will be moving back to the District 8 seat. She said she decided to move back to her originally assigned seat when she found out it would cost $6,800 of taxpayer money to install a computer and a microphone on an empty seat on the dais.

“Although it’s uncomfortable and unpleasant, and I’m disappointed that other council members can’t show others respect, it’s imperative that the taxpayer should be at the forefront of our concerns,” said Niland.

The seat swap takes effect Oct. 28.

Limon said in a phone conversation Tuesday that she honors Niland’s decision. She elaborated in a written statement, saying she hopes returning “to traditional council seating will allow us to conduct our meetings in a professional and courteous manner.”