Call for Killeen city manager’s removal draws strong responses

Killeen Daily Herald
By Kevin Limiti | Herald
November 14, 2023

The Killeen City Council on Tuesday heard a citizen’s petition from Camron Cochran to remove City Manager Kent Cagle — which drew an impassioned defense of the city’s top administrator from the mayor as well as several city council members.

Cochran said the reasons he was urging Cagle’s removal “fall under mismanagement” and outlined his response in a four-minute address.

It was not a citizen’s petition in the sense that he was collecting signatures for a type of action, but a way for Cochran to bring this item on the City Council’s agenda.

One of Cochran’s points was on uncollected fees from permits and “related property development services for the city of Killeen.”

“When the City Council requested an audit to determine how much revenue was lost, they were told by the city manager ‘Don’t worry about it’,” Cochran said.

“I have yet to see results of the audit,” he said.

He also said Cagle’s “understanding of the city’s real estate portfolio” has been “questionable” and that economic development was “hampered” by the city manager. He elaborated, saying the City Council gave “conflicting advice,” which caused confusion.

Cochran appeared to be talking about a recent situation in which a misprint on a slide on proposed permit and inspection fees for the 2024 budget led to a slew of negative feedback from them.

The misprint was eventually addressed, although there continued to be a battle over developers’ fees for permits and inspections.

Cochran’s last point was that there was a “lack of vision” for small businesses in Killeen, saying Cagle didn’t recognize the city’s recent downtown award.

In her response, Mayor Pro Tem Nina Cobb said to look at the accomplishments of the city manager.

She referenced an improved bond rating, and the Anthem Park development agreements that she said will bring more than $600 million as well as bringing a Dave and Busters to the city.

She also mentioned that Cagle had submitted four balanced budgets, hired a new police chief, hired a director of downtown development, improved employee salaries and reduced property taxes, among other perceived accomplishments.

“Who can throw the first stone?” she asked.

Councilman Jose Segarra said the last comment was most important that the decision rests with the City Council.

“I’ve seen five city managers and the current city manager is the best we’ve had,” Segarra said. Segarra said hiring a city manager is very difficult and many don’t have the credentials. “Our current city manager has all that.”

Councilman Michael Boyd, meeting via Zoom, said he was “impressed” with many initiatives the city manager put forward. He acknowledged that Cagle deals with the political side and it’s “a lot to absorb.”

“Our city manager works well with our employees,” Boyd said. “And that’s important.”

Councilwoman Jessica Gonzalez, said, “You can’t please all of the people all the time, only some of the people some of the time.”

She said the feedback from the staff has been positive as it relates to growing the city and “making their environment a better place.”

Councilman Joseph Solomon said he’s toured the city departments. “And the first thing I’ve heard is how they feel so thankful we have a city manager like Mr. Cagle,” Solomon said. “I’ve been nothing but excited about having the city manager around,” he continued. “He knows what he’s talking about.”

Solomon acknowledged he is the “new kid on the block” when it comes to the City Council, but he said it’s been “great working with (Cagle.)”

“I’m a little perplexed by these comments,” Cagle said as he noted Cochran’s original request for a Citizen’s Petition. He mentioned oversight and Killeen Housing Authority about problems that have occurred.

“I just have to assume that Cochnran figured out from the time he turned this in to the time he spoke tonight that ... it’s not a city function and I have no oversight of the Killeen Housing Authority.”

Mayor Debbie Nash-King said every Tuesday there’s an attack and that attack comes from the citizens comments.

“These attacks not only have an effect on Mr. Cagle; he has a wife, he has two kids in college. It affects the city, the staff,” Nash-King said. “It just baffles me that every Tuesday, Mr. City Manager or the Mayor or Segarra or (Councilman Ramon) Alvarez and that’s it.”

Taking Cochran’s complaints individually, Nash-King said the issue of developer fees falls on the executive director, which came before Cagle started working for the city.

“There is an audit being done right now, but prior to the audit we were working on the animal shelter audit,” she said. “You have to do an audit one at a time … so that’s not his fault.”

Nash-King addressed the real estate ties from the City Council. She said they have “very competent individuals” on the council.

Nash-King called the downtown award a “big deal.” She praised Edwin Revell and Kate Kizito — both of whom Cagle hired.

“I applaud Mr. Cagle for everything he has done with seven different personalities up here, along with the executive directors,” Nash-King said.

“We didn’t even have an assistant city manager … so to come up here every Tuesday, it’s gotta be tiresome.” And just attack, attack, attack him. And that makes you feel good?”

Nash-King said Cagle was the “backbone” of the city’s daily operations, and they couldn’t have gotten where they were without him.

A number people signed up for citizens comments, many of whom commented on Cagle, either negatively or positively.

Michael Fornino barely got started speaking when a Herald photographer went to take his photo and was yelled at. “Get that camera out of my face,” he yelled.

“I feel attacked,” Fornino said loudly, waving his arms dramatically.

Nash-King promptly called for a five-minute recess. She later apologized for Fornino yelling and warned him if he had “another outburst,” he would be thrown out.

After the meeting resumed, Fornino asserted that the residents’ complaints haven’t been heard, and that the council was “stonewalling.”

He said he wanted to have a meeting where everyone can sit down and rationally discuss why the city manager should be removed.

Resident Anca Neagu tried to tie the city manager to an incident in which a family dog was impounded and later euthanized, because of what she claims were lies by city staffers to police and the municipal judge.

Nash-King was quick to note that Cagle was not involved in that process.

Bill Paquette said he is “very satisfied” with the job Cagle has done.

He said he joked with Cagle, asking him if he had any outstanding warrants. He said people speaking out against the city manager didn’t know how to talk to people.

“I’ve never had an issue getting any of (Cagle’s) time when I had questions, concerns or just wanting to be educated,” Paquette said. “ It is sad to see this much animosity in what should still be a small town feeling.”

Don Smith also spoke up on behalf of Cagle.

“He has done an outstanding job bringing in people,” Smith said.

Bruce Whiteside, a commissioner on the Killeen Housing Authority board, said he sympathized with Cagle about bullying, claiming that as a KHA board member, he had experienced bullying by a former council member.

During a break in Tuesday’s meeting, the husband of former Council member Mellisa Brown engaged Whiteside in a verbal altercation in the hall outside council chambers.

Police responded and took witnesses’ statements.