Jourdanton city names interim city manager

Pleasanton Express
By Pleasanton Express Staff 
September 06, 2023

Jourdanton City Council voted 4-1 to name City Secretary Debbie Molina as interim city manager in a special called meeting on Thursday at city hall.

Molina was recommended by city council members Raul Morales and Norma Ortiz. Jourdanton Police Chief Eric Kaiser was also noted as a recommendation.

Kaiser ultimately turned down the position and relinquished to Molina who has been temporarily serving as financial officer while carrying city manager duties after the termination of Bobby Martinez.

Legal counsel attorney Molly Solis advised city council that two options were available to appoint an interim city manager, one of which includes bringing in and outside temp through firms such as Texas City Managers Association or Texas First Group.

“The thing with Texas First Group, they are requiring the city’s city manager annual salary plus 30% along with average benefits package,” Solis said. “The amount would equate to $58 per hour along with mileage unless the city provides a vehicle.”

Solis also said that it would be more cost prohibitive if the interim selected lived further away, which would entail the city providing housing.

The other option for a city to appoint an interim city manager is to select from within the city.

“Debbie has a pretty good pulse of the city,” Chief Kaiser said. “I’m more of an outside operational person. We all do our jobs relatively autonomously. Appointing her would be the most expedient way to get it done.”

Molina requested city council to appoint someone else after 90 days if the city has not hired a city manager.

“Staff is assisting me and department heads are helping, so it can be done,” she said. “I just ask for it to be temporary and that my position goes back to city secretary in 90 days.”

As the interim, Molina will earn her base salary of $64,334.40 plus 20% more while in the interim period not to exceed 90 days. Appointing from an outside firm would entail the city to pay $92,000 plus 30% during the interim period.

Prior to voting Molina as interim, city council member Patsy Tymrak- Daughtrey requested the city to change from a city manager form of government to a mayoral form of government with an inquiry.

Solis told city council that the city manager form of government was an elected change in 1987.

“If a city manager form of government no longer works, the process to change would require voters request through petition and then council calls a special election to do it,” Solis said. “The voters direct you.”

Solis requested that if city council were to begin the inquiry process of changing to a mayoral form of government, legal fees will be applied.

“It was to my understanding that two prior opinions of city attorneys were not accepted by this council,” she said. “An outside, unbiased and neutral opinion would be my advice for them to gather the information to challenge the validity of this. If this is someone’s belief, we have to remember that these are taxpayers’ dollars. If you do an inquiry, you have to be ready to deal with the answer you get. It’s a pandora’s box that you may open for lack of better terms.”

The motion made by Tymrak-Daughtrey failed from lack of a second motion from city council.