Hood on administrative leave after Vidor City Council reverses decision
Published: Fri, 09/08/23
Hood on administrative leave after Vidor City Council reverses decision
The Vidor VidorianRandall Luker, The Vidorian
Wednesday, September 7, 2023
First he was, then he wasn’t, now he is again on paid administrative leave after Vidor City Council met in a special session Friday evening to discuss Vidor City Manager Robbie Hood’s employment.
Hood was placed on administrative leave with pay pending an investigation following a closed door executive session August 24 during a regular council meeting. The city manager’s annual performance review was discussed during the executive session with the agenda item stating “Executive Session pursuant to Section 551.074 of the Texas Local Government Code – Personnel Matters, regarding the employment of the City Manager, including annual evaluation.”
When council members returned to open session Mayor Misty Songe announced Hood had been placed on administrative leave with pay pending the results of an investigation and adjourned the meeting. Hood did not return to the open meeting.
The next day, the city emailed an agenda for a special called meeting Monday, August 28 consisting of another closed door Executive Session under “Section 551.074 of the Texas Local Government Code Consultation with Attorney, to seek or receive legal advice regarding pending or contemplated litigation, a settlement offer, or on a similar matter in which the duty of the attorney to the City under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct of the State Bar of Texas clearly conflicts with the Texas Open Meetings Act; and agenda item B1(b) Section 551.074 of the Texas Local Government Code-Personnel Matters-regarding the City Manager. After an hour and a half closed executive session, it was announced the investigation was terminated and Hood would return to work September 1 under a six month probation.
The next day, a new City Council meeting agenda was distributed announcing a special city council meeting would be held Friday, Sept. 1, with the city manager’s future with the city again the topic of discussion.
Following the open session portion of the meeting that saw many residents comment and offer their opinion, Mayor Misty Songe gaveled the open session closed and Vidor City Council reared to deliberate and discuss what action they would take. After returning to open session following the lengthy executive session, Songe announced their decision to reverse course and return to city councils original August 24 decison.
“After a lot of citizens comments council convened into executive session. After a couple of hours the vote was 6-0 to put Robbie on administrative leave and start an investigation,” she explained.