13 Special Council (05-28-04) MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
May 28, 2004
The City Council of the City of Paris met in special session, Friday, May 28,
2004, 9:00 A.M. at Paris Junior College, Bobby R. Walters Applied Technology
Building, Room 1208, 2400 Clarksville Street, Paris, Texas. Mayor Curtis
Fendley called the meeting to order with the following Council Members
present: Jim Bell, Jay Guest, Mary Ann Fisher, Karen Wilkerson, Don Wilson,
and Rick Poston. Also, present were Interim City Manager Terry Townsend,
City Attorney Larry W. Schenk, and City Clerk Mattie Cunningham.
Mayor Fendley announced that the purpose of the special meeting was
discussion regarding the selection of a professional personnel search firm to
conduct a search for City Manager candidates.
Councilwoman Wilkerson told the Council that she talked to Joseph Portugal
last night and he is currently City Manager of the City of Jacksborro, and
formerly was with Weatherford and Denton. He is a personal friend of Chuck
Rohrc and he knew he would do a good job. Councilwoman Wilkerson stated
that she asked him why he has not placed anyone in a couple of years. Mr.
Portugal said he was not aware of that, but as long as he had been in city
management, Mr. Portugal thought that Chuck had a more objective view of
what a community needed on a one on one basis. Councilwoman Wilkerson
advised that in fact he had been recruited by Waters on one occasion at Mt.
Pleasant years back and his opinion was that Chris was a great guy and he places
a lot of people, but that is what he does, he places a lot of people. He was not
always objective about the needs of each community. He knew a lot of people
to get you candidates. Councilwoman Wilkerson said that Mr. Portugal advised
il'you are looking to make sure you do not get a criminal, then, Jim Blagg is the
man because of his background in police work.
Councilman Bell felt that the Mercer Group seemed to have the best warranty
and he felt that whatever firm that they do not choose, then they need to ask staff
to negotiate their warranty in the deal. Councilman Bell felt that Waters has the
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May 28, 2004
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best internet marketing design and he also had the best tract record if you look
at all the people he has recruited.
Councilwoman Wilkerson said that another thing that he said about Chuck
Rohre, with Ralph Andersen, was he has a sense to match up a city with the
right person and that he was very committed and often did work that was in the
scope.
Mayor Fendley said he was concerned about the Waters Group because of the
size and the city might not get the same person; that sometimes they would
shuffle back to one of their junior partners.
Councilman Wilson said he talked to someone in Abilene and Mt. Pleasant and
both have used the Waters Group. He advised that Mt. Pleasant was extremely
happy with them and they were going to use them again. Abilene said they
looked at Mercer and Waters and the Mayor is not looking from the City
Manager side, he is looking from the Mayor's side. The Mayor of Abilene said
he could not have been more pleased with what Waters had done for them. IIe
said it came down to Waters and Mercer and that Waters said that the guy they
have now as City Manager is doing a fantastic job and he told them that he was
not in the job market after they hired him and if it had not been fbr Waters, he
would not have moved to Abilene. He said the Waters Group came to him and
said hc matched up better than anyone else even thoough he had a job and was
not looking tbr a job. The Waters Group told him that he was the man and
talked him into going to Abilene and interviewing and ending up using him for
the Fire Chief and tbr regular utilities. Councilman Wilson said one of the
things that he would be concerned about was the man that did not get the job in
Mt. Pleasant. Councilwoman Wilkerson stated that he did not get the job in Mt.
Pleasant, but he did get the job in Weatherford, which Waters was also working.
Councilman Wilson said that the person he spoke with in Mt. Pleasant said that
was the greatest thing that ever happened to Mt. Pleasant was the man that he
got in there.
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May 28. 2004
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(~ouncilman Wilson suggested that the city make a proposal to the Waters
Group that the they will pay $13,500.00 and that is all they are going to pay and
if not thc city was going with the Mercer Group, and also Mr. Hartung stated in
the May 24, 2004 meeting that he would be the head man and he would be
supported by the new person that he had hired and the City wanted that in
writing, and if he will not do this, then, go with the Mercer Group.
Resolution No. 2004-096, authorizing the Mayor to execute and the City Clerk
to attest to a personal and professional services agreement, as said agreement
shall be negotiated by the Mayor and shall be in such form as shall be acceptable
to the City Attorney, by and between the City of Paris and The Waters
Consulting Group, Inc., to perform a professional personnel search tbr qualified
candidates to serve as the City Manager of the City of Paris, Paris, rl'exas, was
presented.
A motion was made by Councilman Bell to contract with the Waters Group but
authorize the Mayor to attempt to negotiate the Mercer warranty with a cap of
$19,700.00 tbr the fees, and stipulate who is going to handle the city's account.
The motion was seconded by Councilwoman Fisher and carried 7 ayes, 0 nays.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
CURTIS FENDLEY, MAYOR
MATTII~ CUNNINGHAM, CITY CLERK