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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEuless Digest Employee Newsletter July 1993 - Kay Godbey4:>~ Name Roslyn Moore Cathy DiMaggio George Boring Vanessa Christopher Cesario Rodriguez Nick Mitchell Kevin Mercer Mike Logan Bill Thompson Esther Akers Kim Peckler Terry Boaz Ed Harrison John Rheubottom Freddie Clark Shelly Thompson Randall Burns Kyle McAdams Essie Dougherty Tommy Powell Becky Null Tommy Rush Rosemary Gafford Bill McLendon Ellis Samford Zane Cruse Teresa Britt Vicki Smith Michael Brown Meredith McMannis Lance Judd Kelli Dickerson July Birthdays Dept. Date Courts 7/1 Admin. 7/1 Judge 7/2 Police 7/4 Police 7/6 Parks 7/8 Inspect. 7/8 Inspect. 7/9 Retired 7/10 Library 7/10 Env. Health 7/12 Parks 7/13 Parks 7/14 Police 7/15 Retired 7/16 Police 7/17 Police 7/18 Serv. Ctr. 7/21 Library 7/22 Pub. Works 7/22 Admin. 7/23 Fire 7/25 Retired 7/26 Police 7/26 Police 7/27 Fire 7/28 Courts 7/28 Finance 7/28 Police 7/29 Library 7/29 Fire 7/29 Admin. 7/30 0 Printed on Recycled Paper August Anniversaries No. of Years Name Dept. Date 23 Joey Ziemian Police 8/17 18 Ronnie McClendon Fire 8/12 16 Danny Phillips Fire 8/26 14 Gary Kopecky Police 8/3 14 Diana Kopecky Court 8/18 13 Steven Eskew Police 8/1 13 Cole Brown Fire 8/16 11 Reggie Cast Bldg. Maint. 8/16 10 John Craig Inspections 8/23 10 Michael Duff Police 8/5 10 Nell Burns Police 8/29 9 David Priest Police 8/9 7 John Downing Serv. Center 8/5 5 Thomas Crist Fire 8/8 5 Jon Evans Fire 8/8 5 Greg Wolf Fire 8/8 5 Ronnie Ikeler Fire 8/8 4 Mitchell Grogg Pub. Works 8/7 4 Nancy Smeby Police 8/28 3 Roslyn Moore Court 8/9 3 James Perry Police 8/27 3 S.F. Millican Police 8/29 2 Elizabeth McCormick Recreation 8/26 1 Michelle Ricard Police 8/20 1 Suzanne Moore Police 8/31 1 Paul Katoa Police 8/13 1 Edward Callendar Police 8/13 1 David Esman Recreation 8/18 1 Heather Feazell Fac. Maint. 8/20 1 Dale Massey Police 8/24 1 Christy Hamm Police 8/24 EMPLOYEE NEWSLETTER rmim 0 0 ❑ Assistant leaves Euless to take lead in Burleson When she first took the job of records clerk in the Euless Police Department, Kay Godbey said she would "settle" for the job because the position she really wanted --police dispatcher --had already been filled. At the time, Godbey would have never dreamed that the temporary position would turn into a lifetime of career ladder -climb- ing to the ultimate position of city manager. Beginning August 1, Godbey will leave her posi- tion as Euless assistant city manager to become the city manager of the City of Burleson. Godbey ends her 18-year career with Euless after a track that took her from records clerk to city secretary and eventually assistant city manager. "When I applied for the city secretary position and was hired, the mayor came and took me away from the police chief's office the very next day," Godbey said. "Then it got really crazy!" Godbey helped pioneer the computerization and standardization of the city's records during her tenure as city secretary. In 1989, she took on an- other challenge --assistant city manager. "I credit Blackie (Sustaire) and Tom (Hart) with urging me to get into management," Godbey said. "For the first year, I thought they were joking." Godbey said she felt fortunate to work in Euless and to have the opportunity to complete her un- dergraduate and graduate degrees while an em- ployee. "I have to pay tribute to the City Council and to the city management for allowing me the flexibil- ity to go to school," she said. Moving on to Burleson will be bittersweet, Godbey said, but the time to face new challenges is at hand. Godbey was chosen to head up the city which she says is reminiscent of Euless in her first JULY 1993 years here. The Burleson city staff is very profes- sional and progressive, with many opportunities awaiting in its future. "They have a lot of things going for them, they just need a manager who can get them there," she said. "The vision I proposed to them in the inter- view process fit what they saw happening in their city." Godbey said leaving the Euless family would be difficult, but she would take with her the lessons and memories to make her job in Burleson a suc- cess. "As you go to a new job, you take everything you did before and you start applying it," she said. "I want to take the things I learned from Euless that worked well, such as team work." Godbey said her relationship with the employ- ees of Euless have prepared her for the challenges she faces. "I really appreciate all the friendship, kindness and support I've gotten from so many of the employees," she said. "I have to thank the employ- ees for making my 18 and a half years so enjoyable and rewarding." Firefighters help students cash in on bet Euless fire personnel were happy to help stu- dents at North Euless Elementary collect a bet made with the principal and vice principal of their school last May. Principal Betty Vines agreed to eat her lunch on top of the school building if the fourth grade students' scored a class average in the 90th percentile on the annual standardized exams. The students did just that, then enjoyed a picnic outside as they watched their principal and Vice Principal Sherry Dole eat high above the crowd. Euless firefighters were on hand to rescue the administrators when the meal was finished. "They knew they could get up there, but they were a little worried about getting down," said Battalion Chief Jack Watson. ■ Changes to -city management organization made With the departure of Assistant City Manager Kay Godbey, several changes will be made to the management of the city in the Administration of- fice and at some departmental levels. Director of Development and Operations Joe Hennig will now serve as the Assistant City Manager. In the absence of the City Manager or Assistant City Manager, Police Chief K.B. Fuller will serve as Acting City Manager. Administrative Assistant Modesto Mundo will take on additional responsibilities in the City Manager's Office and will take the title of Assis- tant to the City Manager. Randy Byers, director of public works, will over- see the Development Department, including code enforcement, environmental health, animal con- trol, planning, GIS, building inspections and CIP management. City Engineer Paul Kruckemeyer will oversee traffic safety and safety programs. Purchasing and risk management will fall under Director of Fiscal and Human Resources Debra Forte'. Betty Vines of North Euless Elementary is glad to see Euless firefighters Lt. Darrell Rutledge, in bucket, and Paramedic George Cook, right. We all scream for Ice Cream ... Recreation's Jerry Poteet dishes up the classic Blue Bell. Employees were treated to a build -your -own - sundae party in July at the Recreation Center. The event gave employees the opportunity to socialize and enjoy the rites of summer. East meets West ❑ Euless employees show Russians Texas -style city City Planner Rod Tyler demonstrates computer technol- ogy used in planning and development. Euless employees became teachers and demon- strators in June when 23 Russian engineers and planners visited the city. The engineers were cu- rious about city services, planning and develop- ment, zoning and finance. A short presentation was made to the group on each of these subjects along with a welcome address from the mayor and city manager. The group then toured the city with visits to Development, the Library, the Police Department and demonstrations of fire and po- lice vehicles and equipment. ■ Police Chief K. B. Fuller and dispatcher Melanie Reese, seated, explain the 9-1-1 system to the visitors. Fire Chief Lee Koontz looks on as firefighters demonstrate equipment to the visitors. Left, Mayor Mary Lib Saleh, center, poses with the Russian group. r rillr �S Every once in a while, an employee comes along who personifies diligence, integrity and capabil- ity. With her departure from our city, Kay Godbey has come to mind as this employee. Kay has spent eighteen and a half years with Euless. She began as a police records clerk and through hard work, she pulled herself up to one position, then another until she was hired by the City Council as City Secretary. It didn't take long to realize her value as a manager, so in 1989 I hired her for the city's number two position. On top of all the hard work and the ladder -climb- ing, Kay raised her children as a single parent. She attended night classes and earned first a bachelor's degree, then a master's degree. Deter- mination is not a foreign word in her vocabulary. Neither is challenge. Now Kay will take on new challenges as the City Manager of Burleson. I wish her well, and I want her to know how proud I am that she accom- plished so much. She will accomplish much more in the future as well. During her tenure with Euless, Kay was a sym- bol of capability. This one word has been used to describe Kay, and it could not be more appropri- ate. Kay is one of the most capable managers, leaders and workers this city has had. She is truly deserving of this position of leadership in city management. Although Kay is leaving Euless, we will not for- get her trademark style of team work. Joe Hennig will take the reins she has passed on and we will all continue to work together for the city and the citizens. I am excited about Kay's new position and I am thankful for all that she has done for this city. To Kay we wish good luck, and to Joe, we say welcome aboard. Congratulations to Elizabeth McCormick, the Employee of the Month for July! McCormick was nominated by her co-workers several times in the last four months. Each nomination was a testimo- nial by employees from many different depart- ments to McCormick's commitment to the city and its citizens. McCormick was praised by members of her own department, Parks and Leisure Services, for her untiring efforts to get Arbor Daze off the ground this spring. Besides her help on special projects such as Arbor Daze, McCormick has given of her time to many other events which did not fall under her department, including the Boards and Commissions banquet last winter and the Fall Music Festival. "Elizabeth consistently goes out of her way to help all departments she comes into contact with regularly," one employee said. "Elizabeth has proven her capabilities at her own job over her entire employment period. She always has a smile to offer and applies herself to her job." Another co-worker said, "Elizabeth is a great example for other employees who deal with the public. She is knowledgeable about her depart- ment, and if she doesn't know the answer, she finds someone who does." Although she is a part-time employee, McCor- mick spends many off -duty hours at the recre- ation center as a class instructor or as a volunteer for special events. City Manager Tom Hart con- gratulates Elizabeth McCormick and encourages other employees to strive for the best. New mayor, councilmember share vision for city Mayor Mary Lib Saleh and Council- man Charlie Miller did not wait long to get involved as the newest mem- bers of the Euless City Council. In the first few weeks following the election, both attended meetings and toured the city, learning and working toward a better future for the city. "My plans are to be a full-time mayor for this city," Saleh said. We have an excellent city staff and we will accomplish great things in the coming years." Both Miller and Saleh have stressed the importance of economic devel- opment in the city as a means of supporting additional and im- proved city services in all the depart- ments. Mayor Mary Lib Saleh looks on as Charlie Miller takes the oath of office, given by Judge George Boring. "We have a lot of highly educated people in Euless, and they believe in economic development," Miller said. "There's just not a lot of tax left in the households, and by attracting businesses we can take some of the financial burden off of the families in our commu- nity." Saleh agreed, saying the development of new businesses and redevelopment of existing busi- nesses would allow the city to fund other services and projects, such as more police and fire protec- tion, more parks, a larger library and improved streets and utilities. Before her election to the position of mayor, Saleh served as a member of the City Council and as Mayor Pro Tem. She is the mother of five children. An expert in the art of Japanese flower arranging known as Ikebana, Saleh has travelled all over the country to lecture on this ancient art. She is a member of the Northeast Tarrant Arts Council Board, the Trustee Board for Harris Methodist HEB Hospital and the only female chairperson on the administrative board of First United Methodist Church of Euless. Saleh began her service to the city with terms on the Library Board and the Parks and Leisure Ser- vices Board. She was elected to the Council in 1989 and served as Mayor Pro Tem from 1991 to 1993.Saleh teaches adult Sunday school and serves as a docent for the Japanese Gardens in Fort Worth and the Villages of Bear Creek Park in Euless. Miller is a newcomer to the City Council, but he is no stranger to community involvement. He previously served as a member of the Parks and Leisure Services Board for three years and a mem- ber of the Half -Cent Sales Tax Education Com- mittee. He has been involved with the Land Use Committee and the committee which studied the proposed airport expansion in 1989. Miller's self-starter image is also prevalent in his professional life. He is a partner in the Southwest Assurance Group, a commercial insurance com- pany. Both Miller and Saleh have a vision for the city, but they both consider the most important aspect of the city's work to be team work. Without all of us working together, we forget our purpose, they said. ■