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MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL <br />AUGUST 25, 2003 <br />The City Council of the City of Paris met in special session, Monday, August <br />25, 2003, 5:00 P.M. at Paris Junior College, Bobby R. Walters Applied <br />Technology Building, Room 1206, 2400 Clarksville Street, Paris, Texas. <br />Mayor Curtis Fendley called the meeting to order with the following Council <br />Members present: Jay Guest, Joe McCarthy, Francine Neeley, Willie Weekly, <br />Sr. , and Benny Plata, Also present were City Manager Michael E. Malone, <br />City Attorney Larry W. Schenk, and City Clerk Mattie Cunningham. <br />Mayor Fendley called for receiving input from interested citizens of Paris <br />proposing services or projects to be included in the 2003-2004 City of Paris <br />Budget. <br />Dr. William DeG. Hayden, Chairman of the Lamar County Historical <br />Commission, was present to discuss the Gibraltar Hotel. Dr. Hayden said it <br />was his considered opinion that the salvation of this building rests solely in the <br />hands of the city government, commencing with the structure that survived the <br />fire of 1916 as a busy hotel. Dr. Hayden said for the past 45 years, he has <br />watched it deteriorate through a number of owners. Without a doubt, <br />practically every citizen is aware of this derelict in the midst of our community. <br />Dr. Hayden said he has come to the conclusion the only viable scenario would <br />be for Christus St. Joseph's Hospital or a future purchaser of the hospital to <br />offer this building as a gift to the city and for the city to accept it. Once it is <br />accepted, for a moderate expense, the city could improve it cosmetically by <br />closing the openings by simply using tinted windows that would give the <br />building a sense of usefulness. Dr. Hayden said this could be done with the aid <br />of the prison labor, which the city has used so successfully in the Depot <br />restoration. In time the lobby floor and the Mezzanine could be converted into <br />offices with upper floors closed, which would then become a source of <br />additional space and would preclude fundamental additional building forever. <br />Dr. Hayden said he had listed the advantages and the disadvantages in the <br />material which has been provided. He said acting as chairman of the Historical <br />Commission, he has discussed this matter with Peter Maddox, who is the <br />Supervisor for the sale of Christus St. Joseph Hospital, and he seemed to be <br />