County Commissioners approve April M. Rodriguez as new Maverick County Planning Director despite Citizens’ concerns
By: Jose G. Landa
Copyright 2014 Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.
Maverick County Commissioners unanimously approved the hiring of April M. Rodriguez via a departmental transfer as the new Maverick County Planning Department Director at a salary of $39,500 plus benefits despite citizens’ concerns expressed regarding the lack of proper procedures followed in the hiring process at their special meeting held on Thursday, January 9, 2014 at Commissioners Courtroom in Eagle Pass, Texas.
Maverick County citizen and former Maverick County Interim Commissioner of Precinct 2, as well as current candidate for County Commissioner Precinct 2, Daniela Aleman spoke during the recognition of visitors expressing her concerns regarding the lack of proper human resources procedures followed in the hiring of a new Maverick County Planning Department Director via a departmental transfer of an employee without advertising and announcing the job opening to both the public and current County employees effectively denying qualified Maverick County citizens the opportunity to apply and interview for the important County-wide planning director position.
Daniela Aleman told Maverick County Commissioners Court that “my concerns are with item number 19 on the agenda” regarding “discussion and possible action to transfer April M. Rodriguez from Road and Bridge Department to the Maverick County Planning Department.” Aleman stated “my first issue is that the County hired a Human Resources Director on the premise that employment procedures and availability to the community would be improved. That being said, why was this position never advertised? I noticed that this is a transfer, but is this person the most qualified to transfer to this position in the whole county? Does this person have a college degree? Does this person have experience with grants and project management? This is a very important position for the county, which brings me to my last and final concern. We all know that the County is facing some hurdles with grants mainly due to the fact there is no financial opinion granted to the County and the audits are late. In my opinion, I feel this position should be advertised and a qualified candidate should be selected to provide the maximum return on the County’s investment and provide the best service to the community.”
Aleman raised important issues regarding Commissioners Court lack of following proper human resources procedures in not advertising and announcing the County Planning Director position particularly in light of the recent hiring by Commissioners Court of former Eagle Pass Independent School District Superintendent Jesus “Chuy” Sanchez as the County’s Human Resources Director at the cost of $45,000 per year plus benefits. Aleman’s concerns as a Maverick County citizen are the same of many other citizens who view the hiring of a new County Planning Director disingenuous as the January 9, 2014 Special Meeting Agenda does not list the name of the person being hired, the salary, and uses a departmental transfer procedure to override normal and standard human resources procedures required to comply with state and federal employment laws. Prospective Maverick County citizens seeking employment and current County employees were not afforded the opportunity to apply because the County Planning Director position was not advertised nor announced to the public.
Despite the citizens’ concerns expressed by Daniela Aleman, Maverick County Commissioners Court unanimously approved the hiring of April M. Rodriguez as the new Maverick County Planning Department Director via a departmental transfer without any questions asked. Maverick County Judge David R. Saucedo noted during the discussion that the County Planning Director position has a budgeted salary of $49,4000 but that April M. Rodriguez is being hired at the salary of $39,500 per year plus benefits.
April M. Rodriguez experience includes working as a Secretary at the Maverick County Solid Waste Authority (County Landfill) and Office Manager of the Maverick County Road and Bridge Department. Rodriguez is being transferred from her Office Manager position in the County Road and Bridge Department to the new County Planning Department Director. Rodriguez confirmed to the Eagle Pass Business Journal after the January 9th meeting that she was hired to be the new County Planning Department Director.
Maverick County Commissioners Court also approved unanimously Agenda Item No. 15 regarding the hiring of a replacement employee at the Maverick County Food Pantry as requested by County Social Services Director Becky Ballou. During the discussion, Maverick County Judge David R. Saucedo questioned Ballou where was she advertising the position opening and Ballou replied with the Texas Workforce Commission. Ballou told Commissioners Court that she was advertising the job opening with the Eagle Pass office of the Texas Workforce Commission.
Maverick County Commissioners Court disregard of its human resources procedures and newly hired Human Resources Director Jesus “Chuy” Sanchez continued with the following Agenda Item No. 20 regarding the “discussion and possible action to hire replacement for Office Manager in the Maverick County Road & Bridge Department.” County Road and Bridge Department Director Ernesto Guevara advised Commissioners Court that he now needed to hire a replacement for April M. Rodriguez as Office Manager of the Road and Bridge Department at a salary of $31,200 per year plus benefits. County Commissioner Roberto Ruiz asked Ernesto Guevara if he already had a person in mind to hire as the new Office Manager for the County Road and Bridge Department, which Guevara replied “Yes and that person will start working tomorrow” after approval by County Commissioners Court. Interestingly, Commissioner Ruiz questioned Ernesto Guevara what were the qualifications of the new Office Manager of Road and Bridge Department, but he never asked the same question in the previous agenda item in the hiring of April M. Rodriguez as the new County Planning Department Director. Maverick County Commissioners Court unanimously approved the hiring of a new Office Manager for the County Road and Bridge Department at a salary of $31,200 plus benefits without disclosing the name of that person and not advertising and announcing the Office Manager position with the community to afford prospective job seekers and current County employees the opportunity to apply for the Office Manager position, leaving Maverick County citizens with many concerns regarding the following of proper human resources procedures in the hiring of County employees, compliance with state and federal employment laws, and question the need for a County Human Resources Director if Commissioners Court does not follow proper employment and human resources protocol. Maverick County is a public governmental entity and an extension of the State of Texas government.
Maverick County Commissioners Court is comprised of County Judge David R. Saucedo, Commissioner Precinct 1 Jerry Morales, Commissioner Precinct 2 Asalia Casares, Commissioner Precinct 3 Jose Luis Rosales, and Commissioner Precinct 4 Roberto Ruiz.
