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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/30/1993 City Council MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON NOVEMBER 30, 1993 The Special Session of the City Council of the City of The Colony, Texas was called to order at 7:10 p.m. on the 30th day of November, 1993 at City Hall with the following Council roll call: William W. Manning, Mayor Present Mike Lynch, Councilman Present Toby Pollard, Councilman Present Joe Agnew, Councilman Present Tom Bogan, Councilman Present John Dillard, Councilman Absent Joel Marks, Mayor Pro-tem Present and with six present, a quorum was established and the following items were addressed: 1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 2. RECEIVE REPORT FROM THE FEES COMMITTEE REGARDING EXEMPTION OF ANNUAL PASSES FOR SPECIAL EVENTS AT STEWART CREEK PARK Councilman Agnew explained that Councilman Dillard was the chairman of this committee but was unable to attend this meeting. The committee met November 12, 1993 to come up with recommendations concerning the use of Stewart Creek Park by organizations hosting special events. The committee determined there could be three special events each year. They include The Chili Cook-off, Sail Fair and one open event. Organizers may charge admission to the event area but not the boat ramp and no special events may be scheduled on holiday weekends. This would require the new annual park permits be printed with the wording "Not Valid for Special Events". He went on to outline suggestions of what a special event is. Councilman Bogan questioned when payment of the 10% of entry/admission fees would be made to the city. Discussion followed with a final consensus wanting payment within five days unless an extension up to thirty days is granted by Council. Councilman Marks questioned the fees committee setting the definition of a special event and limiting city involvement in putting on such events. He felt they were asked only to recommend whether special events could use the park and charge admission. Mayor Manning stated the committee may have gone beyond the original request but they had addressed valid issues and now was a good time to discuss them. Any resolution supporting the use of Stewart Creek Park for special events must include a definition of what a special event is and we also need to make a determination of the city's investment in such events. 2 Councilman Pollard stated the purpose of charging admission fees by the special events was to cover the expenses of putting on the event. The city would be obliged to provide for the public safety using city police officers and routine maintenance of the park including extra trash collection as needed. He was concerned that too much city staff time and city funds might be used by some organizers. Councilman Bogan said he was not aware of any group making large demands on city staff's time or requesting large sums of financial support from the city. He agreed with Mayor Manning that it is important the city support the groups which promote the city and raise funds for other civic ventures. 3. RECEIVE REPORT FROM SEARCH COMMITTEE REGARDING THE PROCEDURES FOR FILLING THE CITY MANAGER POSITION Councilman Pollard asked Mayor Manning to state for the record his reasons for forming a search committee instead of using the standing personnel committee for the purpose of searching for a new city manager. Mayor Manning said this is special and the committee needs to have members who can make important decisions. Councilman Pollard asked what is meant by important decisions and Mayor Manning said the city manager position is an important decision and that he did not know what else to say about it. Councilman Pollard formally protested the formation of a search committee instead of using the existing Personnel Committee. Mayor Manning said "that's cool". Mayor Manning went on to cover the options available explaining some were too expensive for us to utilize and others had not provided the results we had hoped for in the past. The committee recommended using Dr. Paul Geisel of the University of Texas at Arlington. The cost estimate is $4,000 to $5,000 dependent on the scope of Dr. Geisel's involvement. City Secretary Patti Hicks stated she and Margaret Burkett, Personnel Director had been in contact with other cities who had used Dr. Geisel and received very favorable replies in all cases. She went on to state it was in the city's best interest to use an outside expert as he would have no biases and neither staff nor council have the time or expertise to initiate and screen the large number of applications we will receive. Dr. Geisel would screen the applications, check all references and make recommendations to the council. The council would receive all applications for their review. Dr. Geisel will not be available to meet with the council until early January. Mrs. Hicks requested direction from the council in seeking a formal proposal from Dr. Geisel and setting a meeting with the council. It was agreed that we would pursue this course. 4. CONSIDERATION OF AUTHORIZATION TO ADVERTISE FOR THE CITY MANAGER POSITION Mrs. Hicks indicated the copies of two ads prepared for publication. The larger ad would be placed in publications specific to city government and would probably be the best source of applicants. The smaller ad will be run in the I.C.M.A. publication and in The 3 ~90I Colony Leader which is our official newspaper. Although this is circulated in 12 surrounding communities, it is not felt it will generate many applicants. Motion to advertise the position of City Manager as presented - Lynch; second - Bogan. Motion carried with a unanimous roll call vote. 5. CONSIDERATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INTERIM CITY MANAGER Mayor Manning stated it is necessary to appoint an interim City Manager to keep things running during the search for a new City Manager. He felt Mrs. Hicks was the best choice and recommended her appointment as interim City Manager upon the effective date of Mr. Hall's resignation and in keeping with previous similar situations, her salary shall be adjusted to that of the current City Manager's pay level during her tenure. Motion to appoint Patti Hicks interim City Manager upon the effective date of Mr. Hall's resignation with commensurate salary - Agnew; second - Bogan. Councilman Lynch said we have not approved the City Manager's salary yet (FY 1993/94), in that we have not approved the contracts for the City Manager or the City Secretary. Continuing, Councilman Lynch said the council has to bring those contracts up and vote on them, otherwise, he has no problem with the motion. Patti Hicks, Acting City Manager, said the salaries were approved as a part of the budget process and Councilman Lynch said agreed that the allocation of funds was approved, but the official contracts were "-'", not, and that it is the legal opinion that passing the budget does not automatically approve the contracts. Mayor Manning agreed this could be done at the next council meeting. Councilman Pollard agreed Mrs. Hicks is a valuable asset to the city but wondered if we could not use Dr. Geisel to review our present staff to see if there might be someone more qualified. Mayor Manning said he did not feel it was necessary to spend additional money to find out Mrs. Hicks was the most qualified. Motion passed with the following roll call vote; Lynch - Aye; Pollard - No; Agnew - Aye; Bogan - Aye; Marks - Aye; Manning - Aye. Mayor Manning adjourned the meeting at 8:30 p.m. ~OVED: ~ ATTEST: William W. M/anning,' Mayor Sandie Chance, Deputy City Secretary 4