Nair Stands by Call for City Manager’s Resignation

Myhighplains.com
by: Kelly James
Posted: Jul 1, 2015 / 10:28 PM CDT
Updated: Jul 1, 2015 / 10:33 PM CDT

AMARILLO — The Amarillo city manager remains in his position despite being asked to resign.  New city council member Mark Nair asked for Jarrett Atkinson’s resignation Tuesday. But, that’s not all.

Nair said if he doesn’t resign, he’ll take it to a council wide vote during next week’s weekly council meeting.

Atkinson’s job apparently isn’t the only one the new council members are after.

It appears Nair and another new council member, Randy Burkett, want the president of the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation (AEDC), Buzz David, gone.

To do that, they would have to go after the board.

Nair says he thought he was in a closed session meeting when he requested Atkinson’s resignation. But he was not.

He says he was elected to make some changes at city hall and removing Atkinson is the first step in doing so.

As for the AEDC board, Burkett asked for a review to be put on next week’s agenda for possible removal of all five members.

Nair says it gives them a chance to learn more about what they do.

“I think that due diligence propels me to speak with them and talk to them about their job so I can understand what they’re trying to do.” Said Nair.

However, members of the AEDC Board were taken aback by the news. “I’m surprised and confused by this especially because none of the new council members have ever attended an AEDC board meeting or contacted me or to my knowledge any board member with questions or concerns that they have.” Said Board member Ginger Nelson.

Nelson says she has no plans to resign.

Now the big question is why go after the AEDC board?

That’s because the city council has control over two employees. The city manager and the city judge.

But, they can replace AEDC board members. In doing so, those new board members may be inclined to replace Buzz David as head of the corporation. The board is the only group that can do it.

That appears to be their end game because as Nelson said, they’ve never had any contact with the new council members.

The city attorney says the city charter allows council members to bring items up for a vote.

Marcus Norris says they were instructed to include Atkinson’s job and the AEDC board members review on next week’s agenda.