Eagle Pass City Council approves Settlement Agreement of Separation with City Manager Gloria Barrientos

By: Jose G. Landa, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2015

The Eagle Pass, Texas City Council unanimously approved a settlement agreement with City Manager Gloria Barrientos regarding the separation of her services with the City of Eagle Pass at its special meeting held on Tuesday, August 18, 2015.   The City Council also approved to keep City Public Works Director Hector Chavez, Sr. as Interim City Manager until further notice.  The terms of the settlement agreement and release between the City of Eagle Pass and Barrientos are unknown as well as how much money it is going to cost the City of Eagle Pass taxpayers for the separation of emplloyment of Barrientos’ services as City Manager.

Barrientos had served as City Manager since September 18, 2012 when she was named Interim City Manager by the Eagle Pass City Council to replace former City Manager Daniel Valenzuela who accepted the City Manager position of the City of San Angelo, Texas.  Barrientos was named permanent City Manager by the Eagle Pass City Council on  June 18, 2013 after a national search and interview process.  Barrientos was suspended as City Manager by the Eagle Pass City Council on August 11, 2015 while Public Works Director Hector Chavez, Sr. was named Interim City Manager until further notice.  Barrientos previously served as City Finance Director for over 10 years before being named Interim City Manager.

Eagle Pass Mayor Ramsey English Cantu and City Council went into Executive Session during the August 18th meeting to consult with legal counsel regarding the evaluation of personnel-City Manager Gloria Barrientos.

Upon returning into Open Session, Mayor Cantu asked if there were any motions to be made.  City Councilman Luis E. Sifuentes motioned to approve “the settlement agreement and general release as presented to Council and with the understanding that the language has been approved by Ms. Barrientos and her legal counsel and is ready for execution.  Furthermore,  to authorize the Mayor to sign on behalf of the City and perform all formalities necessary to effectuate the approval of this agreement, and that the City Manager forward this agreement to Payroll to effectuate the necessary payments and for the Human Resources Department to work closely and effectuation of same.”  Mayor Pro-Tem Rudy Villalpando seconded the motion and the City Council unanimously approved the motion to settle with Ms. Barrientos and her legal counsel regarding the separation of her services as City Manager.

City Council also unanimously approved a motion to name City Public Works Director Hector Chavez, Sr. as Interim City Manager until further notice.

The City Council’s action comes at a critical part of the year as the City of Eagle Pass is currently holding public hearings and meetings to approve the tax rate and budget for fiscal year 2015-2016.  Interim City Manger Hector Chavez, Sr. will now lead the City and City Council on approving the 2015-2016 tax rate and budget.  Chavez has previously served as Interim City Manager for the City of Eagle Pass on several occasions.