By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
A majority of the Del Rio City Council has appointed Assistant City Manager Manuel Chavez as interim city manager during a special
meeting Wednesday.
Appointing an interim city manager became necessary after the council accepted a “mutual separation agreement” with former City Manager Shawna Burkhart during the council’s most recent regular meeting on Feb. 24. The separation became effective the next day, Feb. 25.
During the Feb. 24 meeting, a majority of the council also voted to proceed with the dismissal of City Attorney Ana Markowski Smith.
A resolution appointing an interim city manager was one of a handful of items on the agenda of Wednesday’s special meeting.
Also during Wednesday’s meeting, the council heard from three leaders of The Border Organization, who spoke during the citizen comments portion of the meeting. The speakers criticized the council for firing Smith and urged council members to reconsider their decision.
Following the comments from TBO leaders, the council moved on to consider a resolution ratifying the mutual separation of the city manager. The council unanimously approved the resolution ratifying the mutual separation.
The council then considered a resolution approving the appointment of the law firm Denton Navarro Rodriguez Bernal Santee & Zech, P.C., of San Antonio to provide services as interim city attorney. The council approved the resolution on a 5-2 vote, with Councilman J.P. Sanchez and Councilman Randy Quinones voting against the appointment.
The third and final resolution dealt with the appointment of an interim city manager.
After City Secretary Mari Acosta read the heading of the agenda item, Mayor Pro-tem Jim DeReus said he believed hiring someone from outside the city “doesn’t make sense” if the person were to hold the interim city manager position for only a few months.
DeReus said the resumes provided to the council showed only one candidate from within the city organization.
“The resumes we have, as far as I could tell, every single person in there was from outside the city except for Mr. Chavez, and then the intent is for them to be here only a couple of months,” DeReus said.
He added that outside candidates would likely spend much of that time getting up to speed on city policies, procedures and personnel before the city hires a permanent manager.
“To me the only person in the packet … is Mr. Chavez, so I would like to make a motion to appoint Mr. Chavez as the interim city manager, pending the long-term hiring of a city manager,” DeReus said.
Mayor Al Arreola responded that he believed there should be an interview process for candidates.
“I think there’s supposed to be an interview process for candidates,” Arreola said.
Arreola then asked if there was a second to DeReus’ motion. Quinones gave the second.
The council voted 2-5 on DeReus’ motion to appoint Chavez, with DeReus and Quinones voting in favor of the motion. Arreola, Sanchez, Councilman Jesus L. Lopez Jr., Councilwoman Ernestina “Tina” Martinez and Councilwoman Carmen Gutierrez voted against the motion.
The council then moved into executive session and spent nearly two-and-a-half hours behind closed doors.
Several persons were called into the executive session, which was held in the City Hall conference room, including former Del Rio Mayor Roberto “Bobby” Fernandez, Communications and Marketing Director Peter Ojeda, Assistant Finance Director Roxy Soto and Chavez.
Fernandez left City Hall while the council was still in executive session.
When the council returned to open session, Arreola announced no action had been taken while the council was behind closed doors.
After Acosta read the heading of the agenda item dealing with the appointment of an interim city manager, Arreola called for a motion.
Quinones made a motion to approve the resolution appointing Chavez as interim city manager. Sanchez gave the second.
The council then voted 6-1 to approve the motion, with Lopez casting the lone dissenting vote.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com
