Newsletter Archive

Management Messenger
Online News of the Texas City Management Association

Reach Out to Your Colleagues
Have you contacted an intransition member? A call, card, or visit to a colleague who finds him or herself in between jobs or just facing a difficult challenge can make a positive difference. Pick up the phone, jot down some encouraging words in a note or extend a lunch invitation. These seemingly small actions can make a big impact. Do not underestimate the value of hearing from someone that cares. Click here for a list of current in transition members.

November 2005
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The Texas City Management Association is pleased to send you this month’s edition of the Management Messenger. It features recent changes in city management positions around the state, current job listings, names of new members, information about upcoming educational events, as well as news about our colleagues.

You play an important role in the ethics process. Acquaint yourself with the Code of Ethics and its Rules of Procedure for Enforcement .

Please remember to browse through YOUR Web site, http://www.tcma.org

• Ethics Emphasis
• Nomination/Election Process
• Membership Interest Surveys
• Sympathies Extended
• Special Recognition
• Management Transitions
• Scholarship Programs
• Clinics
• Memos on Meetings
• TML Tidbits

Special Point of Interest

TCMA
2006 Annual Conference
June 2 - 4
Corpus Christi
Omni Hotels

Ethics Emphasis: Tenets 9 and 11

Tenet 9: Keep the community informed on local government affairs: encourage communication between the citizens and all local government officers; emphasize friendly and courteous service to the public; and seek to improve the quality and image of public service.

Tenet 11: Handle all matters of personnel on the basis of merit so that fairness and impartiality govern a member’s decisions, pertaining to appointments, pay adjustments, promotions, and discipline.

Guideline for Equal Opportunity. Members should develop a positive program that will ensure meaningful employment opportunities for all segments of the community. All programs, practices, and operations should:

1. Provide equality of opportunity in employment for all persons.
2. Prohibit discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, physical handicaps, age, or marital status.
3. Promote continuing programs of affirmative action at every level within the organization.

It should be the members’ personal and professional responsibility to actively recruit and hire minorities and women to serve on professional staffs throughout their organizations.

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Nomination/Election Process

In December, the nomination process will begin for the 2006-2007 officers. The Nominating Committee will consider each person’s candidacy in light of the current composition of the Board and strive to achieve a balance among geography, size of city, ethnicity, and gender factors.

The Nominating Committee encourages members to incorporate into their decisions the following factors:

• Active involvement in TCMA.
• Active involvement in TCMA region.
• Years of municipal government service.
• Committee service.
• Desire to serve.
• Level of regional support.
• Prior TCMA Board service.

The nominations will be accepted for the following statewide offices:
President-Elect, Vice President, and TML Board Representative.

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Membership Interest Surveys

Interest surveys will be distributed the first week of November.

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Sympathies Extended

Kerry Sweatt, Texas First Group in Leakey. His daughter died unexpectedly on Friday, October 7. Our prayers are with Kerry and his family.

Our prayers are also extended to Charles Windwehen, Assistant City Manager of Victoria, for the passing of his wife, Susan, on October 27. Donations may be made to Victoria College Foundation, 2202 E. Red River, Victoria, TX 77901.

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Special Recognition

Roel “Roy” Rodriguez, former City Manager of Harlingen, was appointed a new member of the Texas Municipal Retirement System Board of Trustees by Governor Rick Perry.

Corpus Christi received the WiFi Award for International E-Government from the Wireless Internet Institute. Congratulations to City Manager, Skip Noe.

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Management Transitions

Colby Waters is the new City Manager of the City of Canadian.

Jack Yates is no longer the City Administrator of Castroville.

Sherman (Robert) Yehl is now the City Manager in Sanford, Florida.

Ric Walton is no longer the City Manager of Hearne.

Curtis Snow is now City Manager in Kaufman.

Jim Blagg is the new Assistant City Manager of the City of Southlake.

Tom Smyser will retire as City Manager of Brazoria effective December 13.

Nick Finan is now Assistant City Manager of Pearland.

Tom Brymer is now the new Assistant City Manager in Olathe, Kansas.

Bill Davison will retire January 31 as City Manager of the city of Burleson. Curtis Hawk, current Deputy City Manager of Burleson, will be the new City Manager of Burleson upon Davison’s retirement.

Carol Garcia is the new City Manager of the city of Socorro.

Van James is the new City Administrator of Bridgeport.

Click here to see if you qualify for TCMA Intransition Services.

For a list of current city management job openings in Texas, please click here .

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Scholarship Programs

Clarence E. Ridley Scholarship. One graduate student from a Texas university will be awarded $3,500 to be used for his or her school related expenses. In addition, the winner’s university will be awarded $1,500 in credit toward TCMA and TML education events. Deadline December 15, 2005.

Barney L. Knight Texas Certified Public Manager Scholarship. One member of TCMA will be awarded $3,500 to provide full tuition to the Texas CPM Program, which is sponsored by the William P. Hobby Center for Public Service at Texas State University-San Marcos. Deadline December 15, 2005.

Other funds available: TCMA Regional Training Fund. The Regional Training Fund is intended to help TCMA Regions pay the costs of eligible educational opportunities.

Visit the appropriate areas of this web site for more information and an application.

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Clinics

William “King” Cole Series – Session I – Basics
December 1 - 2 at the Texas Municipal Center, Austin.

William “King” Cole Series—Session II—Advanced
March 23 –24, 2006 in Addison at the Stone Cottage.

Two City Manager’s Problem Solving Clinics:
February 16-17, 2006 at the Stagecoach Inn, Salado, and
March 2- 3, 2006 in Fredericksburg at the Hangar Hotel.

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Memos on Meetings

1. The University Relations Task Force met on September 30 during the ASPA conference at the University of Texas-Austin and October 26 at the TML Annual Conference in Grapevine. Each meeting was facilitated by Vice Chair, Ted Benavides, former City Manager, Dallas and Senior Lecturer, UT Dallas. The September meeting was attended by Public Administration professors, MPA directors, and TCMA members. The meeting attendees discussed how to enhance educational opportunities for MPA students and TCMA members. At the October meeting, participants identified specific needs of both TCMA and universities. Complete meeting minutes are posted at www.tcma.org.
2. David Landis, chair of the TCMA Public Relations Committee and City Manager of Perryton, has called a meeting for the TCMA Public Relations Committee on Friday, November 18, at 10:00 a.m. in the third floor conference room at the TML offices in Austin. Included in this invitation are the Chairs and Vice Chairs of the four task forces under the PR Committee (Form of Government, Legislative, Outside Organizations, and Our Town, Texas). Again, this meeting is for only the chairs and vice chairs of the four task forces.

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TML Tidbits

Make a note of TML’s upcoming “Public Funds Investment Law Workshops.” They will be held on December 8-9, 2005 in San Antonio, and on February 9-10, 2006, in Corpus Christi. Details and online registration are available at http://www.tml.org/ed_pubfunds.html.

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We also encourage you to visit the entire TML Web site at http://www.tml.org .

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