07-01-2025MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS
July 1, 2025
The City Council of the City of Paris met for a special meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday,
July 1, 2025, at the City Council Chamber, 107 Kaufman Street, Paris, "Texas.
Present: Mayor: Mihir Pankaj
Mayor Pro -Tem: Gary Savage
Council Members: Rebecca Norment, Alex Putnam, Mickey Ellis, and
Tracy Attebury
City Staff: Rose Beverly, City Manager; Janice Ellis, City
Clerk; Skylar Unger, Deputy City Clerk; Osei
Amo-Mensah, Director of Planning & Community
Development; Thomas McMonigle, Fire Chief;
Connie Lawman, Library Director; Jon McFadden,
Public Information Officer; and Brian Dabbs,
Network & Security Supervisor
Absent: Council Member: Shatara Moore
Opening A Benda
Call meeting to order.
Mayor Pankaj called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
2. Invocation.
Council Member Ellis led the invocation.
3. United States Pledge of Allegiance & Texas Pledge of Allegiance.
City Council led the United States Pledge of Allegiance and the Texas Pledge of
Allegiance.
4. Citizens' forum
Reeves Hayter, 4120 Shannon — he said he would like to serve on TIRZ again.
Marshall Dougherty, Jr. — 2905 Oak Creek — he said he applied for PEDC and gave his
background information.
Eric Guillott — owner of City Electric — he said he applied for PEDC and gave his
background information.
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Re pular Agenda
Convene into executive session pursuant to Section 551.071 of the Texas Government
Code, consultation with attorney to receive legal advice from an attorney about (1)
pending or contemplated litigation and/or (2) on matters in which the duty of an attorney
to his/her client under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct of the State
Bar of Texas clearly conflict with this chapter.
Mayor Pankaj convened City Council into executive session at 5:35 p.m.
6. Reconvene into open session and possibly take action on those matters discussed in
executive session.
Mayor Pankaj reconvened City Council into open session at 6:00 p.m. A Motion to
authorize the City Manager to execute the severance agreement with Rob Vine subject to Mr.
Vine executing same was made by Council Member Norment and seconded by Mayor Pro -Tem
Savage. Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays.
7. Discuss and make appointments to the various Boards and Commissions.
Mayor Pankaj announced that City Council would use the same process they had used
for the last several years with the exception that they would be casting their votes electronically.
He asked Council to keep in mind to give their top applicant the highest number of points allowed
for each board. Public Information Officer Jon McFadden explained the electronic voting system
to City Council. Mayor Pankaj said they would begin with PEDC, then the TIRZ Board because
there were a number of applicants for these boards and from there, they would go in order.
City Council casted their votes for two PEDC board members and Staff called out the
names of Erik Roddy and Marshall Dougherty, Jr. as having the highest number of points. A
Motion to approve the appointments was made by Council Member Norment and seconded by
Council Member Ellis. Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays.
City Council casted their votes for five TIRZ board members and Staff called out the
names of Brad Archer, Maureen Hammond, Reeves Hayter, Cody Head and Pam Norwood as
having the highest number of points. A Motion to approve the appointments was made by Mayor
Pro -Tem Savage and seconded by Council Member Putnam. Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays.
City Council casted their votes for one Airport Advisory board member and Staff called
out a tie between Bryan Thomas and Lalonna West. City Council casted their votes again and
Staff announced Bryan Thomas as having the highest number of points. A Motion to approve
the appointment was made by Council Member Ellis and seconded by Mayor Pro -Tem Savage.
Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays.
City Council cast their votes for three Band Commissioners and Staff called out the
names of Lucia Bunch, Steve Clifford, and Cleonne Drake. A Motion to approve the
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July 1, 2025
Page 3
appointments was made by Council Member Norment and seconded by Council Member
Putnam. Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays.
City Council casted their votes for two Board of Adjustment board members and Staff
called out the names of William "Bill" Sanders and Ben Vaughn as having the highest number
of points. A Motion to approve the appointments was made by Mayor Pro -Tem Savage and
seconded by Council Member Ellis, Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays. Mayor Pankaj explained
this would be taken care of under the next item and approved by resolution pursuant to State
Law.
City Council casted their votes for two Building & Standards Commission members and
Staff called out the names of Angie Briscoe and Millicent Kee as having the highest number of
points. A Motion to approve the appointments was made by Council Member Non-nent and
seconded by Council Member Putnam. Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays.
City Council casted their votes for four Historic Preservation Commission members, two
of which were regular board members and two alternate members, and Staff announced those
receiving the most points were Boyd Hale (regular member), Lalonna West (regular member),
Kyle Abshire (alternate member), and Alexis Winston (alternate member). A Motion to approve
the alternates was made by Council Member Putnam and seconded by Council Member
Attebury. Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays.
Mayor Pankaj explained that the Housing Authority board was solely appointed by the
mayor pursuant to State Law, and appointed Steve Smith to the board. A Motion to confirm this
appointment was made by Mayor Pro -Tem Savage and seconded by Council Member Putnam,
Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays.
City Council cast their votes for the two Library Advisory Board members and Staff
called out the names of Dee Hawkes and Sandi Kear as receiving the most points. A Motion to
approve the appointments was made by Council Member Norment and seconded by Council
Member Ellis. Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays.
City Council casted their votes for one Main Street Advisory Board member and Staff
called out the name of Kevin Moore as receiving the most points. A Motion to approve the
appointment was made by Council Member Putnam and seconded by Council Member Attebury.
Moton carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays.
City Council casted their votes for two Planning & Zoning Commission vacancies and
Staff called out the names or Eric Guillot and Rochelle Jones as receiving the most points. A
Motion to approve the appointments was made by Mayor Pro -Tem Savage and seconded by
Council Member Norment, Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays.
8. Discuss and act on a Resolution No. 2025-035 William "Bill" Sanders and Ben Vaughn
appointing members to the Board of Adjustment.
A Motion to approve these appointments was made under item 7 as noted.
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9. Discuss and appoint City Council Members to serve as liaisons to the various Boards and
Commissions.
PEDC - Mayor Pankaj said PEDC Bylaws required the Mayor serve as an ex -office
member. Council Members Norment and Putnam both volunteered to serve on this
board.
Airport Advisory Board — Mayor Pro -Tem Savage volunteered.
Band Commission — Council Member Ellis volunteered.
Building & Standards Commission — Mayor Pankaj and Mayor Pro -Tem Savage
volunteered
Historic Preservation Commission — Council Member Putnam volunteered.
Library Advisory Board — Mayor Pankaj volunteered.
Main Street Advisory Board — Council Member Putnam volunteered.
Planning & Zoning Commission — Mayor Pro -Tem Savage volunteered.
TIRZ — Council Member Attebury volunteered.
Board of Adjustment — Mayor Pankaj volunteered.
Ark -Tex Council of Governments — Mayor Pankaj and Council Member Putnam
volunteered (executive committee)
Visitor & Convention Council — Mayor Pankaj volunteered.
Love Civic Center — Council Member Putnam volunteered.
10. Discuss the proposed FY 2025-26 Budget.
City Manager Rose Beverly said she and Ken Nickel would be giving a short presentation
over the proposed budget. Mr. Nickel reviewed the timeline for the budget process, staffing
budget, proposed capital budget including 2025 tax note items, proposed 2025-2026 revenue,
and proposed department cost by fund. Ms. Beverly said the most important item was staffing
and once they had a chance to look over it, she would really like feedback. Ms. Beverly said
they were hoping to use HOT tax for funding an event coordinator and to help work on some of
the Historic Preservation items. Ms. Beverly also made note of a Business Development position
and explained this person could help with recruitment and retention for downtown businesses.
Mayor Pankaj and Council Member Putnam favored leaving this in the budget. Mayor Pankaj
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said the fire department needed more, and Council Member Norment agreed. Next, Mr. Nickel
went over the water and sewer staffing and said there were 19 openings, most of which were on
the lower end. He said these jobs were hard work, low pay but the City was in the process of a
rate study. Mr. Nickel reported that the Airport was down to one full-time person and was
looking for another technician. He said in the last two months the airport had brought in revenue.
Ms. Beverly said there were two people at the airport for a while and even with two people, that
made the airport vulnerable when one person was out. Ms. Beverly explained that in the prior
budget year Paul had asked for a third person. Mr. Nickel went over the capital projects and
stated the majority of the tax notes was for the fire department. Mr. Nickel explained they
estimate revenue conservatively and the estimation this year was that revenue would be over 35
million at the end of the year. He said EMS could bring in 5 million by the end of the year. He
also said return on investments was down probably by 24%. Council Member Putnam inquired
about the use of HOT tax and said it was up. Mr. Nickle said HOT tax could only be used for
certain items. Mr. Nickel also said that airport sales was trending up.
11. Adjournment.
There being no further business, a Motion to adjourn was made by Mayor Pro -Tern.
Savage and seconded by Council Member Putnam. Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays. Mayor
Pankaj adjourned the meetinpW7i56ipp.
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