City Council hires Financial Advisors, Special Counsel, Consulting Engineers, and hears Firemen Concerns
By: Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2014, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.
The Eagle Pass City Council held its monthly regular meeting on November 4, 2014, at City Council Chambers, addressing key public issues as the Eagle Pass Fire Department and hiring of Financial Advisors, Special Legal Counsel, Consulting Engineers, and other issues.
During the Citizens Communication part of the Agenda, the Eagle Pass City Council honored retiring Eagle Pass Fire Chief Jesus “Chuy” Rodriguez and attentively listened to Fireman and EMT Ruben Villarreal regarding a request to waive the arduous monthly Eagle Pas Fire Department monthly agility test due to the high risks of injury to local Firemen.
“I have come before you to discuss an issue going on for the past month pertaining to a mandatory Eagle Pass Fire Department Agility Test. The Eagle Pass Fire Department Personnel have also had the same issues that I have come before City Council to speak of,” said Villarreal.
Villarreal pointed that he has been a Firefighter/EMT for the past 24 years with the Eagle Pass Fire Department and that he sustained an injury to one of his knees while performing the Eagle Pass Firefighter Mandatory Agility Test.
Villarreal told City Council that the knee injury to his left knee while performing the monthly mandatory agility test suffered a muscle tear and that he received a letter from his medical doctor opining that the time frame required by the monthly mandatory agility test is unrealistic.
Villarreal advised City Council that other firefighters have also suffered injuries while performing the monthly mandatory agility test.
Villarreal told City Council that he is submitting a written petition signed by current and former Eagle Pass Firefighters requesting the City of Eagle Pass to remove or rescind the Eagle Pass Firefighter Mandatory Agility Test due to its high risk of injuries and unrealistic time frame in which to complete it.
“The test bases itself on 6 events within a 5 minute time frame, unrealistic really,” said Villarreal. He added that the monthly mandatory agility test determines which Firefighters get to keep their jobs or are terminated.
Villarreal requested City Council to strongly consider removing or eliminating the monthly mandatory agility test from the Eagle Pass Fire Department requirements so as to prevent future injuries to local Firefighters.
As a matter of fact, the Eagle Pass Fire Department is currently short of Firefighters and can not afford to get any injured.
Mayor Ramsey English Cantu thanked Villarreal for his comments and assured that the City Council would be looking into the concerns raised by the Fire Department.
City Council discussed and approved a resolution appointing new members to the Tax Abatement Review Committee of the City of Eagle Pass.
The Tax Abatement Review Committee includes the Mayor, City Manager, one City Council member, City Attorney, City Planner, and three persons from the community and is approved by the City Council.
City Council selected Councilman William “Billy” Davis and Christina Collett, Sammy Juve, and Roberto Mireles as new members to the Tax Abatement Review Committee. Committee members serve a two-year term and are appointed by City Council.
City Council also approved a resolution amending the budget for fiscal year2014-2015.
City Council also discussed and approved the selection of Estrada Hinojosa & Co., Inc. as the City’s financial advisors. Two proposals were received in response to a Request for Proposals (RFP) for financial advisory services. City Council authorized City Manager Gloria Barrientos to negotiate the contract and terms of said contract with Estrada Hinojosa & Co., Inc. The proposed contract submitted is for a lengthy five year term.
City Council went into Executive Session to consult with legal counsel on certain matters. Upon returning from Executive Session, City Council approved to hire the law firm of Gravely and Pearson, L.L.P. on a contingency fee basis to prosecute a lawsuit against responsible parties for the defective and poor worksmanship during the construction of the City of Eagle Pass International Center for Trade.
The City Council also approved a Professional Services Agreement and Addendum with James T. Rodriguez Consulting Engineers Incorporated to inspect the mechanical and electrical systems at the International Center for Trade and write a report regarding its findings and recommendations to repair or replace any defective work.
