City Council Regular Meeting

Minutes of Regular Meeting The City Council City of Richwood A Regular Meeting of the City Council of City of Richwood was held Monday, December 8, 2014, beginning at 6:00 PM in the Richwood City Hall, 1800 N. Brazosport Blvd. Richwood, Texas. I. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Clink Kocurek, Mayor and presiding officer. II. INVOCATION The invocation was given by Glenn Patton, City Manager III. PLEDGES OF ALLEGIANCE The Pledge of Allegiance and the Texas Pledge of Allegiance was recited by those in attendance. IV. ROLL CALL OF COUNCIL MEMBERS Roll call showed the following members present: Clint Kocurek, Mayor and presiding officer Paul Raymond, Council, Position #1 and Mayor Pro Tem John Pitts, Council, Position #2 Jarrod Beaty, Council, Position #3 Sarah Harris, Council, Position #4 Chris Hardison, Council, Position #5 A quorum was declared. Others present included Glenn Patton, City Manager, Karen B. Schrom, City Secretary, Kenny Williams, Public Works Director, Bryan Corb, Police Chief, Danny Wiggs, Fire Chief, Sandy Reed, John Harris, JC Harris, Allen Williams, Brad Caudle, Mary Groth, molly Caudle, Edgar Floyd, Melissa Blanks, Dylan Caudle, Ali Caudle, Eron Smith, Matt Chronister, Ken Chronister, Lauren LaCount, James Perry, and Brian Allen. V. CONSENT AGENDA  On motion by Councilman Beaty, seconded by Councilman Raymond, with all members present voting aye, the items on the Consent Agenda were approved as presented. A. Approval of Minutes of Previous Meetings B. Payment of bills VI. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS A. Public Hearing - Zoning Variance Request - 116 Warbler Court - build a garage within 7 feet of home. The Public Hearing was opened at 6:02 p.m. With no one present who wished to comment, the Public Hearing was closed at 6:03 p.m. B. Zoning Variance Request - 116 Warbler Court - build a garage within 7 feet of home Councilman Hardison questioned the size stating that he thought it was a bit excessive and perhaps should be sized down and moved further back on the lot. Mr. Allen Williams, owner of the property explained that it is a cul de sac lot and he planned on bricking it and making it match the house. Certified letters were sent to all the residents within a 200 foot radius and there were no complaints. Councilman Harris made the motion to approve the variance, seconded by Councilman Raymond, with Councilmen Pitts and Beaty also voting aye. Councilman Hardison voted Nay. Motion carried. C. RV Park proposed site On motion by Councilman Pitts, seconded by Councilman Raymond, with all members present voting aye, it was duly adopted to hold a public hearing on the proposed RV Park. D. Re-plat - a 17.00 acre tract out of a 19.71 acre tract - Brazos Crossing Apartments Councilmen Beaty and Hardison questioned why we were replatting the property. It was explained that 210 Developers were only buying the 17 acre tract and the remaining 2.71 acres would act as a buffer and would still be owned by Mr.  Burroughs. On motion by Councilman Hardison, seconded by Councilman Pitts, with all members present voting aye, it was duly adopted to approve the re-plat as presented. E. Executive Session pursuant to Chapter 551.0745, Personnel Matters to deliberate the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of a public officer or employee or to hear a complaint or charge against an officer or employee. 1. City Manager Council entered executive session at 6:20 p.m. Council exited the executive session at 7:47 p.m. F. Action as a result of Executive Session No action was taken. VII. REPORTS A. Finance Reports Par for the period ending November 30, 2014 is 84% remaining. VIII. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT Mr. Patton reported that Retail Coach has compiled reports and are working on specific businesses and commercial locations. They will try to make the January meeting. Christmas luncheon will be December 18th. IX. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Public Hearing – RV Park on Brazosport Blvd. Retail Coach X. COMMITTEE REPORTS Christmas in the Park will be Friday, December 12th.  XI. COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS & REPORTS Councilman Harris stated that there are two different games for Council at Christmas in the Park – a bean bag game and a darts and balloon game. She hopes that Council will be able to attend. She also reported she had gone on a walkthrough with Kenny Williams, Public Works Director. She stated he is very knowledgeable and encouraged everyone to do the same. XII. MAYOR’S REPORT Christmas in the Park XIII. PUBLIC COMMENTS Brad Caudle claimed that officers in the Richwood Police Department were angry at him for being too nice for too long about how things had gone in the City. He accused Mr. Patton of spending his day viewing porn on the city’s computer. He also accused Mr. Patton of not coming in until after 10 am each day and leaving at 5 pm, as well as attacking a female employee. He accused the Council of failing the city and reminding them there is an election coming up soon. He stated that he’d received an email from someone who did not wish to date Glenn and it was sent to him in error. Mary Groth also claimed that Mr. Patton viewed pornography during the day. She asked what sort of college degree did Mr. Patton have. We required the new police chief to have one. She further claimed that Mr. Patton has committed adultery and sexual harassment. He has set a bad example with his low moral standards. Mr. Patton doesn’t own the city and it is very sad that Council is keeping him in his current position. She stated that if nothing happens, things will change at the next election. Melissa Blanks, Chairperson of Keep Richwood Beautiful and a member of the Parks and Recreation Board, then spoke. She stated that she serves the City by volunteering on both the boards, she was instrumental in helping Richwood to get a Lion’s Club Chapter, and she also volunteers with Junior Service League. She is employed full time at Brazosport College as a Counselor and will graduate on Saturday with her second Master’s Degree. She is proud of her city and glad she can make time to help. Keep Richwood Beautiful is an important part of the City and has won several grants for the City. The most recent will be used to beautify a portion of FM 2004. Parks and Recreation Board organizes great events for the City such as Christmas in the Park. All of the city events would not be possible without the board members and the assistance of the staff. Lauren LaCount stated she appreciated Councilman Hardison for asking questions at  the meetings. She stated that in the open records request, there were a stack of letters from citizens asking Council to not fire Brad. She felt as though Council did not listen to the public. She will continue to keep this professional and not personal. Brian Allen, BISD, wanted to share a recent experience he had. They had received a call that there was a person on the Polk Elementary Campus who was known to be violent. He immediately contacted Chief Corb. By the time he arrived, Chief Corb was already there and two Richwood Police Officers were already searching the campus. They did not find the person in question but was able to locate him at his home address and a criminal trespass warning was issued. He was very impressed with the professionalism of the police department. He also appreciates the trash service. He is a very satisfied resident and employee of BISD. XIV. ADJOURNMENT With no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 8:06 p.m. APPROVED BY A MAJORITY VOTE OF COUNCIL ON JANUARY 12, 2015. ________________________________________ Clint Kocurek, Mayor ATTEST: _______________________________________ Karen B. Schrom, City Secretary