and MEGAN GRAY
The Ellis County Press
WILMER – City secretary Crystol Birdwell was placed on administrative leave pending her official firing at a September council meeting, according to a press release the southern Dallas County town issued Monday.
Birdwell could not be reached for comment when contacted at Wilmer City Hall.
Mayor Don Hudson, who fired City Administrator Thom Lauer earlier this year, alleged Birdwell of failure to follow state laws on publishing and scheduling public hearings, failure to transcribe city council meeting minutes in a "timely fashion" and failure to keep an accurate record of the city’s financial records.
Hudson, stated he wants former Ferris city secretary Alice Holloway as his interim secretary, also alleged Birdwell of failing to respond to open records requests in a timely manner, as well as providing needed documentation to the city’s accountants.
The list of seven infractions also alleged Birdwell of failure to file and follow up with the state comptroller’s office for economic development taxes. Wilmer councilmen will decide Sept. 4 on Hudson’s official decision and whether to appoint Holloway as her replacement.
