Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1963-12-12THROUGH12-26-63SPECIAL MEETINGS December 12 through December 26, 1963 Interviews -C i t y Manager P o s i t i o n CALL TO ORDER A called meeting o f t h e Euless C i t y Council was called t o order at 7:50 P. M e by Mayor W. G. F u l l e r with t h e following councilmen p r e s e n t : Messrs. B i l l Byers, H. M. Huffman, Bobby FulPer and Roy B r a s w e l l . Also p r e s e n t w e r e C i t y S e c r e t a r y Vada F e r r i s and C i t y Attorney J a m e s Cribbs. INTERVIEWS -CITY MANAGER POSITION This meeting was called f o r t h e purpose o f i n t e r v i e w i n g a p p l i c a n t s for t h e p o s i t i o n of C i t y Manager r e s u l ting from t h e r e s i g n a t i o n o f t h e p r e s e n t C i t y Manager W i l l i a m F. Condron, Jr. e f f e c t i v e January 1, 1964. Mayor F u l l e r informed t h e c o u n c i l t h a t t h r e e a p p l i c a n t s w e r e p r e s e n t f o r t h i s meeting... M r . J i m F e a z e l l e , C i t y Manager at Brady, Texas; M r . W a l t e r Nelson, Manager of the Hurst-Euless Chamber of Commerce; and, Mr. Joe Umphress, P r i n c i p a l , F a r m e r s v i l l e Elementary School, F a r m e r s v i l l e , Texas. M r . J i m F e a z e l l e p r e s e n t e d a p e r s o n a l data s h e e t to t h e c o u n c i l m e m b e r s with a list of r e f e r e n c e s , and copies of budgets f r o m towns of former employment. He informed t h e c o u n c i l he bad been City Manager at Brady, Texas, s i n c e 1958. Considerable d i s c u s s i o n followed and Mr. F e a z e l l e stated he would be available for employment February 1, 1964.. and, t h a t he considered t h e s u m of $9,200.00 annually as t h e salary he would expect t o have if selected t o assume t h e p o s i t i o n of C i t y Manager of Euless. M r . Walter Nelson p r e s e n t e d several books of documents and letters, diplomas and certificates, p e r t a i n i n g t o h i s experiences i n t h e armed f o r c e s . A f t e r q u e s t i o n s and answers between the a p p l i c a n t and c o u n c i l m e m b e r s , Mr. Nelson stated he would be satisfied t o begin with t h e s a l a r y of $7,200.00 which is t h e s t a r t i n g s a l a r y mentioned by Mayor -F u l l e r . . . M r . Nelson f u r t h e r stated t h a t he would be a v a i l a b l e , if selected, t o assume t h e p o s i t i o n on February 1, 1964. He advised t h e c o u n c i l t h a t he had not had p r e v i o u s bond e x p e r i e n c e , b u t had t h i r t y (30) years of p u b l i c r e l a t i o n s work. M r . Nelson had submitted a resume of h i s past employment, p i c t u r e s and r e f e r e n c e s t o t h e c o u n c i l . M r . Nelson w a s complimented f o r h i s w o r k w i t h the Chamber of Commerce and thanked for h i s appearance at t h i s meeting. M r . Joe Umphress advised t h e c o u n c i l t h a t he had experkce i n bond e l e c t i o n s , b u i l d i n g programs, as w e l l as h a n d l i n g p e r s o n n e l . . . t h a t , he would consider t h e p o s i t i o n of C i t y Manager o f , E u l e s s a c h a l l e n g e . He stated he would be w i l l i n g t o assume t h e p o s i t i o n of C i t y Manager at t h e s a l a r y of $7,200.00 which t h e c o u n c i l had suggested, but considered t h a t h i s education and experience w e r e worth more, and he b e l i e v e d he could show t h e c o u n c i l t h a t he was deserving of more compensat i o n . M r . Umphress thanked t h e c o u n c i l for g r a n t i n g t h i s i n t e r v i e w . 8 30 GENERAL DISCUSSION M e m b e r s of the council and Mayor F u l l e r commented t h a t each a p p l i c a n t had presented himself w e l l . . and, seemed capable.. and, it w a s agreed t h a t , following f u r t h e r interviews to be held on Friday, D e c e m b e r 13, they hoped t o reach a decision concerning t h e employment of a .Ci t y Manager. " . It was f u r t h e r decided t o set l i m i t for each fiscal agent to present h i s plan at t h e meeting of December 13, 1963. ... a t i m e l i m i t of f i v e minutes was suggested. RECESS The meeting recessed' at 1 O : l O a t i m e P. M. by general consent of t h e m e m b e r s and, is scheduled t o reconvene at 6:30 P. M. , December 13, 1963, f o r f u r t h e r i n t e r v i e w s . . . . . . The meeting of t h e City Council for the purpose of interviewing a p p l i c a n t s f o r the p o s i t i o n of City Manager reconvened at 6:45 P. M.,.Friday, December 13, 1963. Present w e r e Mayor W. G. F u l l e r , Councilmen B i l l Byers, H. M. Huffman, Bobby F u l l e r , and Roy B r a s w e l l . A l s o p r e s e n t w e r e City S e c r e t a r y Vada F e r r i s and City Attorney James Cribbs. M r . Richard Bean, p r e s e n t l y City He stated he w a s formerly i n t h e City Manager of Lockhart, Texas, having held t h i s p o s i t i o n for the past year, was p r e s e n t for am interview. Managers Training Program at Lubbock ... is t h i r t y years of age, He informed t h e council t h a t he had not had previous bond experience and t h a t he would consider the p o s i t i o n of City Manager of Euless at a s a l a r y of $9,000.00 and a car t o be furnished b y t h e City. cussion and questions and answers, M r . Bean thanked t h e C i t y Council m e m b e r s for permitting t h e interview. Mayor F u l l e r expressed h i s appreciation to M r . Bean on behalf of t h e council for having appeared before them for t h e interview. A f t e r f u z t h e r dis-This s e s s i o n adjourned at 7:25 P. M., and did not set a date for later interviews. . . . . . . . . . . The City Council m e t December 26, 1963, at 6:15 P. M. t o conduct f u r t h e r interviews for t h e p o s i t i o n of City Manager. Present w e r e Mayor F u l l e r , Councilmen Byers, F u l l e r , B r a s w e l l and Huffman. Also plresent w e r e City S e c r e t a r y Vada F e r r i s and C i t y Attmney James Cribbs. Mr. Charles Norwood is p r e s e n t l y City Manager at Abernathy, Texas, having held t h i s . p o s i t i o n -for the past eighteen (18) months. He advised t h e council t h a t h i s p r e s e n t s a l a r y is $6,500.00 annually. and stated he could begin h i s d u t i e s as c i t y manager, if selected, about January 15, 1964. Mr. Norwood presented himself very n i c e l y and the council m e m b e r s w e r e impressed with him. Mayor F u l l e r thanked M r . Norwood He presented a letter of a p p l i c a t i o n and a resume for appearing before the council and advised him he would be n o t i f i e d of t h e i r decision. Mr. Stanley Neuse is p r e s e n t l y associated with t h e C i t y Manager's O f f i c e i n Arlington ... stated he is Administrative Assistant to the C i t y Manager. He had p r e v i o u s l y p r e s e n t e d a letter of a p p l i c a t i o n and a resume t o the c o u n c i l . . he stated he aids t h e City Manager i n $he preparation of the budget, has experience i n bond i s s u e s and brochures pertaining-:to same... t h a t he has been employed at h i s p r e s e n t p o s i t i o n f o r t h e past t h r e e years. He stated t h a t he would expect a s a l a r y of $8,700.00, insurance on h i s car t o be paid by t h e City, and a credit card f o r gas and o i l , a l s o to be furnished by the City. He commented t h a t he considered t h a t t h i s s a l a r y would be one t h a t would be fair t o h i m and the City of Euless. He s t a t e d t h a t he would like t o give h i s employer at least f i f t e e n (15) days n o t i c e if t h e council should select him as City Manager. Mayor F u l l e r thanked M r . Neuse for h i s appearance before t h e council and advised him he would be n o t i f i e d of t h e i r decision at a later d a t e . M r . Richard N. Leggett is an insurance r e p r e s e n t a t i v e and a r e s i d e n t of Euless. He stated t h a t he was not experiencedin bond i s s u e s , and, has not had experience i n City government work..that he would expect t o r e c e i v e a s a l a r y of $650,00 or $750.00 per month. City Manager because he l i k e s people. Mayor F u l l e r thanked M r . Leggett for appearing before t h e council. He stated t h a t he was applying for t h e position of Mr. Lee Cowell is p r e s e n t l y employed as Director of Finance for t h e City of H u r s t , , . having held t h i s p o s i t i o n for t h e past e i g h t (8) months ... w a s formerly City Comptroller at S w e e t w a t e r , Texas, and previously, City Secretary at Alpine, Texas. He stated t h a t , at p r e s e n t , h i s s a l a r y is $7,800.00 and t h a t he is m o s t anxious t o become a City Manager, t h e r e f o r e , any amount approximating $7,800.00 would please him. He stated t h a t he would like t o give h i s present employer two weeks n o t i c e if Ke should be selected for t h i s p o s i t h . Mr. Cowell presented himself very w e l l and the council m e m b e r s expressed an i n t e r e s t i n him. Mayor F u l l e r thanked Mr. Cowell for h i s appearance before t h e council and advised him he would be n o t i f i e d of&their decision at a later date. A f t e r d i s c u s s i o n , Councilman B r a s w e l l made t h e motion t h a t t h e interviews be concluded at t h i s t i m e and t h a t no more a p p l i c a t i o n s w i l l be accepted. The motion was seconded by Councilman Huffman and carried unanimously. After fur+hex d i s c u s s i o n , it w a s decided t o eliminate s o m e of the a p p l i c a n t s so t h a t a decision on one a p p l i c a n t c o u l d be reached. It w a s agreed by t h e councilmen t o consider only t h e applicants w i t h experience i n City Government work. After still f u r t h e r d i s c u s s i o n , Councilman B r a s w e l l made t h e motion t h a t Mr. Stanley Neuse be employed as City Manager.. t h i s motion died for lack of a second. Councilman Huffman m a d e t h e motion t h a t Mr. Lee Cowell be employed as City Manager for t h e City of Euless. Councilman B r a s w e l l seconded t h e motion which carried unanimously. (It was decided to check r e f e r e n c e s , credit, and other i t e m s . . and the Chief of Police was asked t o s e c u r e t h i s information as soon as possible). It was agreed by a l l t h a t t h i s information t h a t Mr. Cowell was the choice of the council would not be revealed u n t i l after t h i s i n v e s t i g a t i o n was made. 32 I 8 30 GENERAL DISCUSSION Members of the council and Mayor Fuller commented that each applicant had presented himself well.. and, seemed capable.. and, it was agreed that, following further interviews to be held on Friday, December 13, they hoped to reach a decision concerning ". the employment of a .City Manager. It was further decided to set limit for each fiscal agent to present his plan at the meeting of December 13, 1963. ... a time limit of five minutes was suggested. RECESS The meeting recessed' at 1O:lO a time P. M. by general consent of the members and, is scheduled to reconvene at 6:30 P. M. , December 13, 1963, for further interviews. ..... The meeting of the City Council for the purpose of interviewing applicants for the position of City Manager reconvened at 6:45 P. M.,.Friday, Decem- ber 13, 1963. Present were Mayor W. G. Fuller, Councilmen Bill Byers, H. M. Huffman, Bobby Fuller, and Roy Braswell. Also present were City Secretary Vada Ferris and City Attorney James Cribbs. Mr. Richard Bean, presently City He stated he was formerly in the City Manager of Lockhart, Texas, having held this position for the past year, was present for am interview. Managers Training Program at Lubbock ... is thirty years of age, He informed the council that he had not had previous bond experience and that he would consider the position of City Manager of Euless at a salary of $9,000.00 and a car to be furnished by the City. cussion and questions and answers, Mr. Bean thanked the City Council members for permitting the interview. Mayor Fuller expressed his appreciation to Mr. Bean on behalf of the council for having appeared before them for the interview. After fuzther dis- This session adjourned at 7:25 P. M., and did not set a date for later interviews. .......... The City Council met December 26, 1963, at 6:15 P. M. to conduct further interviews for the position of City Manager. Present were Mayor Fuller, Councilmen Byers, Fuller, Braswell and Huffman. Also plresent were City Secretary Vada Ferris and City Attmney James Cribbs. Mr. Charles Norwood is presently City Manager at Abernathy, Texas, having held this .position-for the past eighteen (18) months. He advised the council that his present salary is $6,500.00 annually. and stated he could begin his duties as city manager, if selected, about January 15, 1964. Mr. Norwood presented himself very nicely and the council members were impressed with him. Mayor Fuller thanked Mr. Norwood He presented a letter of application and a resume for appearing before the council and advised him he would be notified of their decision. Mr. Stanley Neuse is presently associated with the City Manager's Office in Arlington ... stated he is Administrative Assistant to the City Manager. He had previously presented a letter of application and a resume to the council.. he stated he aids the City Manager in $he preparation of the budget, has experience in bond issues and brochures pertaining-:to same... that he has been employed at his present position for the past three years. He stated that he would expect a salary of $8,700.00, insurance on his car to be paid by the City, and a credit card for gas and oil, also to be furnished by the City. He commented that he considered that this salary would be one that would be fair to him and the City of Euless. He stated that he would like to give his employer at least fifteen (15) days notice if the council should select him as City Manager. Mayor Fuller thanked Mr. Neuse for his appearance before the council and advised him he would be notified of their decision at a later date. Mr. Richard N. Leggett is an insurance representative and a resident of Euless. He stated that he was not experiencedin bond issues, and, has not had experience in City government work..that he would expect to receive a salary of $650,00 or $750.00 per month. City Manager because he likes people. Mayor Fuller thanked Mr. Leggett for appearing before the council. He stated that he was applying for the position of Mr. Lee Cowell is presently employed as Director of Finance for the City of Hurst,,. having held this position for the past eight (8) months ... was formerly City Comptroller at Sweetwater, Texas, and previously, City Secretary at Alpine, Texas. He stated that, at present, his salary is $7,800.00 and that he is most anxious to become a City Manager, therefore, any amount approximating $7,800.00 would please him. He stated that he would like to give his present employer two weeks notice if Ke should be selected for this posith. Mr. Cowell presented himself very well and the council members expressed an interest in him. Mayor Fuller thanked Mr. Cowell for his appearance before the council and advised him he would be notified of&their decision at a later date. After discussion, Councilman Braswell made the motion that the interviews be concluded at this time and that no more applications will be accepted. The motion was seconded by Council- man Huffman and carried unanimously. After fur+hex discussion, it was decided to eliminate some of the applicants so that a decision on one applicant could be reached. It was agreed by the councilmen to consider only the applicants with experience in City Government work. After still further discussion, Councilman Braswell made the motion that Mr. Stanley Neuse be employed as City Manager.. this motion died for lack of a second. Councilman Huffman made the motion that Mr. Lee Cowell be employed as City Manager for the City of Euless. Councilman Braswell seconded the motion which carried unanimously. (It was decided to check references, credit, and other items.. and the Chief of Police was asked to securethis information as soon as possible). It was agreed by all that this information that Mr. Cowell was the choice of the council would not be revealed until after this investigation was made.