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.