Eagle Pass City Council keeps City Manager Application Period Open Until Next Meeting

By: Jose G. Landa, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2016

The Eagle Pass City Council unanimously approved to keep open the application period for the vacant City Manager position until the next City Council meeting addresses this issue at their regular meeting held on Tuesday, January 5, 2016.

Currently, eight candidates have applied for the Eagle Pass City Manager position, including Ronald Hixson, Jr., Rudy Bowles, Jesus Sanchez, Yarah Mansour, Robert A. Eads, Juan Francisco Zuniga, Julio Cesar Martinez, and Manuel de la Rosa, Jr. Interim City Manager Hector Chavez has not applied for the position as he previously stated that he wished to retire in the near future and assist the City of Eagle Pass only on an interim basis until City Council hires a new City Manager.

During the meeting, Eagle Pass Mayor Ramsey English Cantu and City Council went into Executive Session in matters covered by Section 551.074 of Chapter 551, Texas Government Code, regarding Discussion of Personnel Matters: discussion and possible action establishing the process and selection of the position and search of City Manager.

Once back in Open Session, Mayor Cantu announced that at this time there was no formal action to be taken under agenda item No. 31 and that the City Council would have time until the next scheduled meeting to review the initial applications submitted on a more thorough basis and that it would not exclude the acceptance of other applications until the next scheduled meeting.

“Applications may still be accepted until the council meets the next time to discuss this issue.” said Mayor Cantu.

City Council concurred with Mayor Cantu’s statement.

The Eagle Pass City Council appointed City Public Works Director Hector Chavez as Interim City Manger on August 18, 2015 when they suspended former City Manager Gloria Barrientos and reached an agreement with Ms. Barrientos and her attorney to pay her a severance and exit agreement.

It is unknown how much money City taxpayers paid Ms. Barrientos as part of her severance and exit agreement. The Eagle Pass Business Journal has requested a copy of Ms. Barrientos’ severance and exit agreement from the City of Eagle Pass under the Texas Public Information Act, but the City of Eagle Pass and City Attorney Langley & Banack have objected to the request and are blocking public disclosure of this public document to taxpayers.