Board Minutes Archive

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2006
ARANSAS ROOM, OMNI BAYFRONT HOTEL
CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS

INTRODUCTORY ACTIVITIES

Those in attendance were: TCMA Board Members: President Rickey Childers, City Manager, Longview; President-Elect Mark McDaniel, Deputy City Manager, Tyler; Vice President Mike Perez, City Manager, McAllen; TML Board Representative David Landis, City Manager, Perryton; Immediate Past President Craig Lonon, Intransition; Region 1 Director Linda Weller, City Manager, Gruver; Region 2 Director Jared Miller, City Manager, Snyder; Region 3 Director Darron Leiker, City Manager, Wichita Falls; Region 7 Director Dick Fletcher, City Manager, Robinson; Region 8 Director Larry Dovalina, City Manager, Laredo; Region 9 Director Tom Blazek, City Manager, Rockport; Representative of the Assistants’ Organizations Eric Olmedo, Budget Officer, Rowlett. Guests: Debbie Brooks Feazelle, City Manager, La Porte; Paul Feazelle, TCMA member; Ted Benavides, Former City Manager, Dallas; Christal Kliewer, Assistant to the City Manager, Grand Prairie; and John Lynch, Attorney, Adams, Lynch, & Loftin. TML Staff: Gary Watkins and Kyle J. Jung.

President Rickey Childers called the meeting to order at 10:55 a.m. and welcomed those in attendance.

Regional representatives updated the Board concerning regional activities and openings.

On a motion by Craig Lonon and a second by Larry Dovalina, the Board excused the absences of Tom Hart, Jim Blanchard, Ricky Jorgensen, and Laura Huffman.

MEETING MINUTES

Upon a motion by Darron Leiker and a second by Jared Miller, the Board approved the August 19, 2005, TCMA Board meeting minutes as presented.

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS

Upon a motion by Larry Dovalina and a second from Craig Lonon, the following memberships were approved:

The application for Sheryl Sculley, CM, San Antonio, was approved by the TCMA Executive Committee in November. No action was required from the TCMA Board.

FULL
Earl Berner, CM, Lake Dallas
Mark Browne, CM, Terrell Hills
Ricky Crownover, CM, Tulia
Toby Futrell, CM, Austin
Kevin Lahner, ACM, Keller
Dorothy Palumbo, ACM, Highland Village
Jim Polonis, CM, Sonora
Stephen Sparks, CA, Palmer

ASSOCIATE
Richard Brian Abernethy, Asst to the CM, North Richland Hills
Dennis Blake, Finance Dir., Shavano Park
David Mitchell, Planner, Harker Heights
Jeffrey Sundseth, EMS Director, Pearland
Kristi Taylor-Salinas, Asst. to the CM, Edinburg
Reena Varghese, Mgmt. Asst., Sugar Land

STUDENT/INTERN
Sonia Campos, Student/Intern, San Antonio
Brian Chapman, Student/Field Rep., U.S. Rep. Joe Barton
Raymond LoCicero, Student, Valdosta State Univ., GA., Mgr. Senior Liaison, US Coast Guard, Deatsville, AL
Jennifer Mason, Student/Intern, Lubbock

RECEIVE MEMORANDUM REGARDING ADVOCATING AND EDUCATING CITIZENS OF THE FORMS OF GOVERNMENT IN TEXAS

John Lynch, Attorney with Adams, Lynch, & Loftin, presented a memorandum providing legal advice on what options TCMA has available in advocating and educating citizens on the Forms of Government in Texas. The Board asked several questions about the Memo which were answered by Mr. Lynch. Gary Watkins informed the Board that the Memo has been provided only recently to the TML General Counsel for review, and recommended that final action be tabled until the next Board meeting. He advised that should any major concerns arise in the meanwhile regarding TML General Counsel’s review, he would get the parties involved together to resolve them for the Board’s consideration at their next meeting. The Board agreed to table action until the next meeting. On a related matter, given the pending membership dues renewal process, the Board, on a motion by Jared Miller with a second from Mark McDaniel, approved requiring only personal checks or credit cards as payment for contributions to the Texas Foundation for Local Government.

RECEIVE SAMPLE CITY MANAGER EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

As part of the agreement between TCMA and TCG Consulting, a review of the TCMA sample employment agreement was to be accomplished by the law firm of Adams, Lynch, & Loftin. John Lynch presented a draft version of the sample employment agreement. The Board received the draft and forwarded it to the TCMA Membership Committee for their review. Gary Watkins informed the Board that the draft has been provided only recently to the TML General Counsel for review, and recommended that final action be tabled until the next Board meeting. He advised that should any major concerns arise in the meanwhile regarding TML General Counsel’s review, he would get the parties involved together to resolve them for the Board’s consideration at their next meeting. The Board agreed to table action until their next meeting.

RECEIVE REPORT FROM TCMA COMMITTEES AND TASK FORCES

Mark McDaniel, Chair, Professional Development Committee, updated the Board about the TCMA Annual Conference and the change in the program, to conclude on Sunday by Noon. A copy of the program was provided. Rickey Childers inquired about a communication from the City of San Antonio regarding the closing conference event. Mark McDaniel indicated he would follow up with the city regarding their continued sponsorship.

Debbie Brooks Feazelle, Chair, University Relations Task Force, updated the Board on the recent activities of the Task Force. A recommendation from the Task Force was the creation of a pilot program for a statewide internship program that would provide funding by TCMA to match funding from a city to hire an intern. On a motion by Craig Lonon and a second by Mike Perez, the Board approved the concept of creating a pilot program for a statewide internship program. The Board asked the University Relations Task Force to develop the program specifics and bring them back to the Board at their next meeting.

David Landis, Chair, Public Relations Committee, updated the Board on the November 18, 2005 meeting of the Committee.

RECEIVE REPORT ON TML-RELATED ACTIVITIES

David Landis, TML Board Representative, provided an update of recent TML Board activities.

RECEIVE REPORT ON ICMA-RELATED ACTIVITIES

Rickey Childers updated the Board about activities related to the most recent ballot initiative in Dallas. He suggested that TCMA should consider how to work with ICMA to provide financial support to local communities dealing with Form of Government issues.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Kyle Jung presented the Profit and Loss Statements and Balance Sheets for TCMA and the Texas Foundation for Local Government for the period ending November 30, 2005.

OLD/NEW BUSINESS

The Innovation Groups (IG) requested that TCMA consider co-sponsoring a symposium on February 17, 2006. TCMA policy on co-sponsoring events indicates that TCMA will not co-sponsor an event that occurs within 30 days of a TCMA event. Since the TCMA City Management Problem Solving Clinic is taking place on February 16-17, 2006, the Board took no action on the IG request.

An executive summary and final report written by Joe LaBeau on City Manager Personality and Career Impacts were provided to the Board. The Board asked Mike Perez to invite Joe LaBeau to attend the next Board meeting to discuss the report’s recommendations.

The Florida City/County Management Association (FCCMA) contributed $3,000 to TCMA for hurricane relief. On a motion by Tom Blazek and a second by Dick Fletcher, the Board approved sending the money to the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army dedicated for hurricane relief in Texas.

ADJOURNMENT

Since there was no further business, President Childers adjourned the meeting at 1:20 p.m.

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