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Regular Council Meeting <br />August 26, 2013 <br />Page 7 <br />Days, but that it should be budgeted for a specific amount and he thought there should be a <br />random selection of people to attend so that everyone had an opportunity to represent the City of <br />Paris. <br />He said a better job should have been done at formulating policies. Mayor Hashmi <br />suggested that PEDC assess the worth of the project at the beginning of the project and that the <br />project expense be approved by the PEDC Board prior to any funds being spent. He also <br />recommended that detailed summary reports be prepared on every project that is evaluated and at <br />the end of every project, whether successful or not, it should be noted for the next time what <br />should or should not be done to get future projects. He said PEDC should stay within the budget <br />for the money allocated for the projects. He also recommended that they consider different <br />approaches in attracting projects such as more brokerage based instead of hiring consultants. <br />Mayor Hashmi acknowledged it was not always easy to bring manufacturing jobs and that <br />everyone should be considering what else could be done so that the community as a whole could <br />improve. Council Member Frierson said the presentation was enlightening, but that the process <br />was continual and not everything was an exact science. He said it was his understanding that no <br />one had asked Steve Gilbert about these charges and he found Mr. Gilbert to be very cooperative <br />with any requests of him, such as a request for more detailed reports. Council Member Frierson <br />said Mr. Gilbert did a lot of good work, some of which could not be quantified. He also said the <br />PEDC was reviewing their budget and their spending habits and he was sure that would be a <br />continual progress. Council Member Frierson said the work done by Mr. Gilbert does not yield <br />an immediate return on investment and those relationships were so hard to qualify and quantify. <br />Mayor Hashmi pointed out that he had attempted to contact Steve Gilbert prior to this <br />presentation on six different occasions, but that Mr. Gilbert never responded. Council Member <br />Wright said the facts speak for themselves, that they could do a better job and that there needed <br />to be mover oversight. Council Member Wright also said the PEDC Board was the agency to <br />start that process and that the City Council should ensure it happens. Council Member Jenkins <br />said it needs to be better monitored. Council Member Lancaster said tax dollars need to be spent <br />very carefully and well documented. She said that closer oversight was in order. Council <br />Member Grossnickle agreed with Council Member Lancaster and added that he believed the <br />larger expenses were legitimate, because PEDC was meeting with prospective industries to come <br />to Paris. He also said there seemed to be a lot of general lunches and they should ask Mr. Gilbert <br />if there was an expense account for that. Council Member Drake said PEDC had brought <br />businesses to Paris, but there were ways to tighten up. She said there needed to be more <br />documentation as to how the money is spent and that she was not saying PEDC had done <br />anything illegal. She also said PEDC needed better reporting to the City and it was her <br />understanding that the Board was working on some policies. <br />21. Convene into Executive Session pursuant to Section 551.074 of the Texas Government <br />Code, to deliberate the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, <br />discipline, or dismissal of a public officer or employee as follows: city manager. <br />City Council did not convene into Executive Session. <br />