Maverick County Commissioners Court seek to withhold County Auditor’s salary at Today’s Meeting

By: Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2014, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.

Maverick County Commissioners Court will seek to withhold County Auditor Fidencio Oritz’s salary until his employment status is resolved at today’s (Monday, November 10, 2014) Commissioners Court meeting at 5 P.M. at Commissioners Courtroom at 500 Quarry Street in Eagle Pass, Texas, according to the Agenda.

Maverick Commissioners Court comprised of County Judge David Saucedo and County Commissioners Roberto Ruiz, Asalia Casares, Jose Luis Rosales, and Gerardo “Jerry” Morales are seeking to oust County Auditor Fidencio Ortiz having passed a resolution unanimously on May 5, 2014 requesting that he be terminated for allegedly not performing his duties.

County Auditor Fidencio Ortiz denies Maverick County Commissioners Court allegations.

The County Auditor is appointed by state District Judges Amado J. Abascal, III, and Cynthia Muniz. Oritz was appointed in late 2012 to fill the long-standing vacancy left by the resignation of former County Auditor Carlos Pereda. Ortiz’s term of appointment expired on September 30, 2014 and he has not been officially re-appointed as District Judges Abascal and Muniz split on the decision whether to appoint him to another two year term at a special meeting held on October 14, 2014. Judge Abascal favored appointment while Judge Muniz disfavored appointment of Ortiz.

As a result of District Judges Abascal and Muniz split on the issue of appointment, state law requires that the District Judges write to Governor Rick Perry to appoint a third state District Judge to the panel and hold another special meeting to determine the appointment of a County Auditor. In light of the recent November 4th state general election, there is a possibility that the appointment of a third District Judge to the panel may take weeks or months.

Meanwhile, County Auditor Ortiz is continuing to work as the Maverick County Auditor until a formal decision is made by the District Judges on who is going to be appointed as County Auditor.

Maverick County Commissioners Court are scheduled to go into Executive Session with Maverick County General Counsel and State Representative Poncho Nevarez pursuant to Section 551.074 to consult regarding the withholding salary of County Auditor until his employment status is resolved, and then come out into Open Session to discuss and take possible action on said agenda item.

Commissioners Court will also tackle other agenda items including the hiring or replacement of several Maverick County Detention Center positions such as the Management Information Systems, Licensed Vocational Nurse, and a Certified Nursing Assistant as well as many other topics.

Maverick County Commissioners Court meetings are open to the public.