Conroe has fired Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Director Shannon Overby, above, and assistant Jodi Willard, less than a month after Overby filed a harassment claim that the city later found to have no merit. City officials declined to release specific details leading to the action.
Jason Fochtman, Staff photographer / Houston Chronicle
Houston Chronicle
Catherine Dominguez, Staff writer
Conroe has fired Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Director Shannon Overby and assistant Jodi Willard, less than a month after Overby filed a harassment claim against a council member that the city later found to have no merit.
City officials declined to release specific details leading to the action.
Nancy Mikeska, assistant city manager and director of community development, said the terminations were in line with a new direction for the city's convention and visitors bureau.
“The city has made a change in our convention visitors bureau staff to address a more positive visitors center appeal,” said Mikeska, who oversees the city's human resources department. “We want to promote Conroe and welcome visitors to our beautiful city and feel both are important.”
Overby and Willard were hired in 2017 and terminated April 11.
During a workshop meeting April 12, Council member Marsha Porter asked staff to make changes to the city’s personnel policies after Overby filed a harassment claim against Porter March 20.
“Our HR department investigated and found it had no merit,” Porter said.
Porter’s recommended changes include a form to be signed detailing the behavior of a person filing a complaint and the person named in the complaint while it is being investigated by staff.
HR Director Andre Houser said the complaint did not provide any information that Porter had done anything to violate any city policy or federal laws regarding harassment.
“There was also no allegation of contact between (Porter) and (Overby),” Houser said.
Porter said she never had any one-on-one meetings with Overby and never communicated with Overby or CVB staff by text or email.
“It was all based on hearsay,” Porter said of the complaint.
Reorganization of staff, moving departments
Earlier this year, city council reorganized its staff following the termination of former City Administrator Paul Virgadamo Jr. and the resignations of former Director of Finance Steve Williams and former Director of Capital Improvements and Transportation Tommy Woolley.
The reorganization included moving some departments to different offices, Mikeska said.
“The entire city council decided to transition the first floor of the Conroe Tower into a visitors center,” Mikeska said. “When staff cannot embrace the council’s vision in a positive and encouraging manner, changes have to be made.”
Having CVB staff manage visitors to City Hall has been part of the city’s reorganization plan. According to information from the city, dozens of visitors come to City Hall daily for various reasons.
“It is sad to see, when a need arises, an entire staff find fault, place blame and work with such a negative attitude,” Porter said.
Overby could not be reached for comment.
City Administrator Gary Scott said the city is in the process of auditing the CVB’s use of hotel occupancy tax funds as due diligence regarding Overby’s termination. He said the city is currently doing a nationwide search to replace Overby.
“We feel the positions serve important purposes and we will seek to fill them with experienced individuals that want to serve our thriving city and citizens,” Scott said.
According to the Texas State Comptroller, hotel owners, operators or managers must collect state hotel occupancy tax from their guests who rent a room or space in a hotel costing $15 or more each day. The tax applies not only to hotels and motels but also to bed and breakfasts, condominiums, apartments and houses. Local hotel taxes apply to sleeping rooms costing $2 or more each day.
Conroe's hotel occupancy tax rate is 7 percent of net receipts. Those funds must be used for promoting the city and can be used for events and festivals.
Having CVB staff manage visitors to City Hall has been part of the city’s reorganization plan. According to information from the city, dozens of visitors come to City Hall daily for various reasons.
Mikeska said Porter’s recommendations for personnel changes will be reviewed by staff and revisited at a later date.
cdominguez@houstonchronicle.com