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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes City Council - 12/11/1981 - SpecialMINUTES +` CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING ' DECEMBER 11, 1981 5:00 P.M. - COUNCIL CHAMBERS PRESENT Mayor Luther Jones Mayor Pro Tem Betty N. COUNCIL MEMBERS: Jack K. Dumphy Bob Gulley Herbert L. Hawkins, Jr. Dr. Charles W. Kennedy Cliff Zarsky Turner Assistant City Manager James K. Lontos City Attorney J. Bruce Aycock . City Secretary Bill G. Read Mayor Luther Jones called the meeting to order in the Council Chambers of City Hall. City Secretary Bill G. Read called the roll of required Charter Officers and verified that the necessary quorum was present to conduct a legally constituted meeting. Mayor Jones introduced Dr. David Wasson, Industrial Psychologist, from Houston, Texas and Mr. Bob Coop of Korn/Ferry, -Inc. Mr. Bob Coop presented the Council with `copies of the Korn/Ferry report on their recommendation for seven candidates for the position of City Manager for the City of Corpus Christi. He suggested that they, meet on Saturday morning at 8:30 a.m. to go over procedures for the interviews. Mayor Jones and the Council Members agreed to meet at 8:30, a.m. on Saturday, December 12, 1981. Mr. Coop continued his presentation and reviewed the procedure followed to recruit candidates for the City Manager position and stated that they had about 75 applicants for the position. He suggested that interviews not be conducted during the social hour that night, but that this be an opportunity to visit and talk with the candidates and the wives. He explained that:the report presented to the Council includes Korn/Ferry's evaluation of each candidate, the - candidate's resume, a series of suggested questions that the Council might wish to ask during the interviews tomorrow and stated that he will be available throughout the day on Saturday in the event there are questions. Mr. Coop ataiLMED SIP 191984 Minutes Special Council Meeting December 11, 1981 Page 2 8 7: • qr ';.jaia 0;171' CO':;,;(4' uor I7 W-' continued and: lirairided:': inforbiatidni ofiqhe 1 -their 7 experience,, the types7 of cities in "WhiChrthey are now working and educational background on:the .dandidate: t71,i'l/C? - He concluded hia':firliarks b sfact:ingrthaViCoinieeriiiiet14:Plea"ded I Oese candidates Ze7riutl cgtJqIcIgIou • Mayor Jones stated .ltliat3tis imattei-llorirraalCe ille7-C:OuriC11%;111wirrtrei:vTeW , any -staff of the City of Corpus Christi who have applied. Mr. Coop explained that they have interviewed-ractinV" City Manadeil Egesfcli‘rioPies /arid "r"efeC•enCes -haveindicatedTthanMr./18ricified ii doincfra Acting City Manager.0 Mr-. Coov stated "howeiier have- Prbven over an extendedIkriod—oLctime,•thatithWliageaf1fex'peileicCe. also,; stated that Mr ri." Brionee restiree i LW -chided iirthe 'report. Mr ..;;Coop them statecl'Abiattheqolloitirigm.e.andidalesqYWere' rieconim" aided for her position: J,:rMaitirreGairiet ;',"Citir"41iifigerl' bOial: Gablesif' Flririda; garmanr. City c,Mana ger Tin -E. PenliadO1CG/T16iida 'Gviih ;11Y As'afatani eit`y` Manager in Fort Worth Jainea fdraill6; S6f&iKiiiitani id the afilei Administrative. Officee,e1Albuquettpie gew- ?aided; geliAlard-Mailln;' -thy Man ager in -Evanstonv Illinois;' Howard ( McMahan Y'pa-st-briiiideof svtin- in Fort' Worth " and- formerj.:City- Manager In FOrthr,Wciith' and"Ok1aho aity; and Thomas Muehlenbeck, ?Assistant City—Man-10f Dr. Wasson,ex-plained%that=h67-Will 7td" eand" si\ faa'hoii with. each candidate and he mill", b -PayehOlogiCal morning • with: -the:, f1naI intdr,view to be at 8:00 a.m. Mondiy 'oii.iig 'He summary of 1sm&tdUof ".; ..-..-1-1c141" • presented the Council!'" with copies of a brief operation: 10,• to - Mayor Jones then inVited Mr. planned for the visiting candidates. Coop and Dr. Wasson to the reception Assistant City, Manager Lontos inquired about the Charter provision that requires that the City Manager attend executive meetings of the Council and Mayor_ Jones askethfor -a .legal;opinionairtMa'.6A A" Nua 5m1 City Attorney , Aycock stated that employing aiti'Marigge'r i-S.theilrespoh: sibility of the City Council and he did not feel it was necessary for someone to be present acting as City Manager. • " inutes ,pecial Council Meeting December 11, 1981 Page 3 Mayor Jones stated that he had requested that City Secretary Read be in attendance at the door at the Chamber of Commerce building: A motion was made by Council Member Gulley that the Council convene in executive session under the authority of Article 6252-17, V.A. C. S., and move to the Chamber of Commerce with the candidates, the Council, the Korn/Ferry representative and the psychologist to be present. The motion was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Turner and passed unanimously at 5:40 p.m., December 11, 1981. ********** Council reconvened the Special Council Meeting of Friday, December 11, 1981 at 7:00 p.m. in closed session at the Chamber of Commerce meeting room to meet with applicants, Mr. Coop and Dr. Wasson. The Meeting recessed at 10:15 p.m. until 8:30 a.m., December 12, 1981. ********** Council reconvened at 8:30 a.m., Saturday, December 12, 1981 in closed session in the Committee Room at City Hall with Mr. Coop to go over procedures for the interviews. Council then proceeded to interview the applicants in the following order: 9:00 a.m. 1.0:30 a.m. 1:00 p.m. 2:30 p.m. 4:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. Howard McMahon J. Martin Gainer Steve Garman Gary -Gwyn James Jaramillo Tom Muehlenbach The meeting was recessed at 7:17 p.m. until 3:00 p.m., Sunday, December 13. Council reconvened at 3:00 p.m., Sunday, December 13, 1981 in the Committee Room at City Hall and interviewed Mr. Ed Martin. . The meeting recessed at 5:40 p.m. until Monday, December 14, 1981, at 6:30 p.m. 1 ********** Council reconvened at 6:30 p.m., Monday, December 14, 1981 in the Committee Room. Mayor Jones reconvened the Special Council Meeting of December 11, 1981 at City Hall to receive the report of Dr. Wasson. The meeting recessed at 9:15 p.m. until Wednesday, December 16, 1981 Workshop Meeting. Minutes Special Council Meeting December 11, 1981 Page 4 Council reconvened at 10:29 a.m., Wednesday, December 16, in the Committee Room at City Hall to continue consideration of applicants. The meeting recessed at 12:02 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. ********* Mayor Jones reconvened the Special Council Meeting of December 11, 1981 at 2:05 p.m., December 16, 1981. A motion was made by Council Member Gulley that the Council meet at 7:30 a.m., Thursday, December 17, 1981 in the Mayor's Office to consider applications for City Manager position in closed session. The motion was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Turner and passed unanimously. A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Turner that the Special Council Meeting of December 11, 1981 be recessed at 2:06 p.m. December 16, 1981; seconded by Council Member Gulley; and passed unanimously. ********* Council reconvened at 7:30 a.m., Thursday, December 17 in the Mayor's • Office at City Hall for consideration of the applicants. The meeting recessed around 9:20 a.m., time of next meeting to be announced. , Mayor Jones reconvened the Special Council Meeting at 1:30 p.m., December 18, 1981. City Secretary Read stated that the necessary quorum was present to conduct a legally constituted meeting. He explained that this is a continuation of the Special Council Meeting conducted on December 11, 1981 that started at 5:00 p.m. and has been meeting in reconvened executive sessions over the past few. days. A motion was made by Council Member Gulley that the Council convene in closed session in accordance with Article 6252-17, V.A.C.S., seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Turner and passed unanimously at 1:31 p.m. ********** Mayor Jones reconvened the Special Council Meeting at 3:10 p.m., December 18, 1981 and stated that the meeting was open for the purpose of employing a City Manager. r '"Alk%. mutes pecial Council Meeting December 11, 1981 Page 5 A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Turner that Mr. Ed Martin be employed as City Manager of the City of Corpus Christi; seconded by Council Member Kennedy; and passed unanimously. Mayor Jones stated that he had never seen -a more thorough examination' for a prospect for a job in all of his experience with the Army, Navy or the private sector. He stated that Korn/Ferry Incorporated employees are experts; they provided expertise in recommending the seven candidates considered -by the City Council; an industrial psychologist was employed ' to interview candidates; and the Council knows a great deal about all of the candidates. He noted that the Council •was unanimous in the decision to employ Mr. Martin at a salary beginning at $70,000 a year. He continued by stating that the terms of employment will be to pay moving expenses to Corpus Christi; the' payment of temporary living expenses up to $2,000; travel expenses for Mr: Martin' and his family to visit Corpus Christi' one time before he is on duty in the City and stated that Mr. Martin is looking forward to coming to Corpus Christi. Mayor Pro Tem Turner elaborated by 'stating that the Council conducted a national search because their responsibility was to obtain the most capable City Manager possible for the City of Corpus Christi. She stated that the search was conducted in an extremely careful manner, there were excellent candidates; and the Council is unanimous in feeling that they have the best possible City Manager for the City. Council Member Gulley 'expressed the opinion that Mr. Martin' is an intelligent man and one who can streamline the City's government. He 'stated that he has been. impressed by the fact that this man does not seem to like red tape and he was looking forward to some changes in government but he expects slow, deliberate changes. - Council Member Dumphy stated that he is delighted with -the choice of Mr. Martin. He stated that 'he has had some experience in 'hiring people in his private business but he has' -never participated in a situation in which there' were so many candidates with so many qualifications. Mr. Dumphy stated that he is looking forward to Mr. Martin's arrival, not just because 'of his experience and talent, but because of his proven ability to work with the "City Council as a team and in turn to work with the staff as a team. He noted that Mr. Martin Minutes Special Council Meeting December 11, 1981 Page 6 has demonstrated his ability tb work with affirmative action programs and again stated that he looks forward to his arrival in the City. Council Member Hawkins stated that Mr. Martin has an excellent background with minorities; a good background in working with finances, he is a leader of his City and a leader of the City Managers in his state. Mr. Hawkins indicated that he is very pleased at the way the Council worked together on this matter. Council Member Kennedy stated that all of the Council Members were hoping that this would happen and they feel that Mr. Martin is an outstanding individual and an appropriate choice for this City. He noted that the psychological testing indicates that he will be the kind of City Manager that this City needs. Council Member Zarsky agreed that Korn/Ferry had conducted the search in a very professional manner, but noted that they had the Texas Research League study to help them make their job easier. He also pointed out that the past manager of the City should be complimented for the excellent condition the City is in financially and otherwise. He agreed that Mr. Martin is highly qualified, has done an excellent job in .Evansville, Illinois and he is of the opinion that the City will grow under his leadership. Mayor Jones expressed appreciation to Acting City Manager Ernest Briones for his efforts in the interim period without any problems while the City did not have a City Manager. Mayor Pro Tem Turner added her compliments to Mr. Briones for his performance as Acting City Manager. Council Member Zarsky referred to the fact that he had recommended Mr. Briones for this job and he feels that he could have done a• good job. He urged Mr. Briones to stay with the City of Corpus Christi. - There being no further business to come before the Council, on motion by Council Member Gulley, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Turner and passed unanimously the Special Council Meeting of December 11, 1981, was adjourned at 3:25 p.m., December 18, 1981.