New city manager presents new positions for growth

FERRIS – New Ferris City Manager Brooks Williams took the reins at his first official council meeting, and presented six new employment positions to the city council at Monday night’s council meeting.

Williams presented the creation of a city building official/city planner to better regulate development; a deputy court clerk; an assistant city manager of support services to perform a variety of duties including human resources responsibilities; an assistant city manager of fiscal services to help with bond proposals and grants; a public works superintendent with the idea to move current community development director Michael Hamilton into that position, and a director of courts position.

The city council passed the creation of these new positions unanimously, but not before discussion began by Place 2 councilmember Michael Martinez.

Martinez brought up the promotion of Court Supervisor Misty MacDonald to court director, questioning her qualifications and level of pay.

He then stated he never voted to promote MacDonald or raise her salary, but Mayor Pro Tem Tommy Scott harshly reminded Martinez he had voted 5-0 with the rest of council for the changes.

Because MacDonald’s salary was discussed during the council meeting, Place 5 councilmember Sherie Chapman apologized to MacDonald sitting in the audience, saying that conversation had no business being discussed in open forum – conversations concerning employee salaries and positions should take place in executive session only.

The six new positions will report directly to Williams.

During public comment, Jason Crenshaw, citing transparency, stated he was still unhappy some documents requested through open records concerning the recent internal investigation of a city employee had still not been made available.

Concerning that investigation, council later voted 5-0 to release to the public any and all attorney-client privileged documents from the Texas Municipal League to the city of Ferris pertaining to former Director of Public Safety Eddie Salazar, Court Supervisor and now Court Director Misty MacDonald, former Mayor Jim Swafford and former Investigator Walter “Gator” Weiss – in order to finally put the recent internal scandal to rest and move on.

And related to that decision, council then quickly discussed and voted 5-0 to reverse a recently changed Ferris code of ordinance, allowing the chief of police to once again report directly to, and be appointed by, the city manager.

In a 4-1 vote, the city will retain Yeldell, Wilson, Wood & Reeve, P.C. for an additional year to perform the audit for Fiscal Year ending Sept. 30, 2019.

The firm presented the financial report audit for Fiscal Year ended Sept. 30, 2018 and told council there were significant cash reserves.

Martinez requested an Request For Proposal (RFP) for new firms before the vote, but because of the pending deadline it was determined not feasible.

Williams did agree for next year, best practice would be to look at other audit firms.

Misty Tarver was appointed to the Type B Economic Board, David Maki to the Board of Adjustments and Deborah Maki was appointed to the Park Board, and all sworn in Monday night.

Council passed 5-0 to direct City Manager Williams to begin the process of gathering financial information and options for a comprehensive infrastructure improvement project including water infrastructure, sewer infrastructure and a municipal complex.

Williams said the water and sewer had been put off too long and must be addressed.

He also suggested a municipal complex be built within Ferris’ budget where all city employees could be efficiently officed in one building.

Council also approved 5-0 to allow Interim Fire Chief Clayton Haughey to purchase new mobile and portable radios for the fire trucks – and police cars – to replace the existing obsolete equipment. Council approved $34,000 for the purchase of the radios.