HomeMy WebLinkAbout1973-04-12 - Special City CouncilStephenville, Texas
April 12, 1973
The City Council met in a called meeting on the above date with Mayor
Donald R. Jones presiding and the following members present: Toby Stone,
Larry Hammett, Jesse Sexton, Charles Riggins, Jack,Curtis, Jim Chambers,
Raymond Anderson and Doug Smithey.
Others present were: City Administrator Shelton and Mr. Ben Lindsey with
the State Committee of Aging.
Mayor Jones told the Council that the purpose of this meeting was for
the Senior Citizens Board of Directors to meet with the Council and determine
how the Senior Citizens Center would be operated this coming year.
Mayor Jones recognized and welcomed the new council members, Jim Chambers
and Jesse Sexton and the incumbents Charles Riggins and Raymond Anderson.
Mayor Jones brought the Council members up to date on the operation and
the problems of the Senior Citizens Center. Mayor Jones said that, in his
opinion, there were three alternatives but that he would welcome any suggestion.
1. Continue as it is - with two directors - renew the Board.
2. Let the Board determine whether or not they want to form a non - profit
organization, independent of the City.
3. Place the Senior Citizens Center entirely under the City and probably.
wouldlnot receive any federal grants.
The Mayor at this time opened the meeting,for discussion.
Rev. Warren 011iff, Chairman of the Senior Citizens Board, reported to the
Council that the Board had developed a comprehensive program for the elderly
of the City and surrounding area. The applied for a re- allocation of funds
which the State reluctantly granted and the Board put Mrs. Lucille McCleskdy
in as Director of the Center and Coordinator of the Recreation and the Arts
and Crafts and hired Mrs. Rene Waterberry for the development of transporation
for the elderly and for the Health and Foods program. Conflict arose immediately
between the two. As a result of the last meeting of the Board, they have the
following recommendations:'
I. The two programs approved by the committee will continue as they are
now operating until April 1, 1973, at that time funding by the State
will end and the City Council will probably re- evaluate the entire
Senior Citizens Center Program when the new Council convenes.
2. Office space for Mrs. Waterberry will be made at the Senior Citizens
Center so it will be more convenient for her and the elederly people
coming to see her.
3. All funds budgeted and accrued by the Senior Citizens be incorporated
into one fund.
4. If possible a part -time janitor will be made available from the Parks
& Recreation Dept. for the Center.
5. In the event that definite proof is submitted to the Senior Citizens
Committee that any effort is being made to subvert either of the
programs approved by the Committee, the Committee will dissolve itself
and return control of the Senior Citizens Center and the new programs
to the City Council.
Rev.- 011iff stated that after that meeting hat all of the funds nds have not been
put into one account and there were still some subversive actions being taken.
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After quite a bit of discussion, Mr. J. Louis Evans suggested that the
Mayor and City Council appoint a three member committee to incorporate the
Senior Citizens Center into a non - profit organization.
Mayor Jones asked that the Senior Citizens Board convene in an outer
office and determine whether they want to incorporate, want the Council to
appoint the three incorporators and Board of Trustees and begin all over,
also if they want the Council to take it on, that ' basis or if they want to
continue operating as the Board,of.Trustees.
Rev. 011iff and the Board returned to the meeting and Rev. 011i££
spoke for the Board and reported that the Board had dissolved itself and
returned the operation of the Senior Citizens Center to the City with the
recommendation that it seek to establish a three member committee to in-
corporate a non - profit organization to operate the Center.
Mayor Jones expressed his thanks and appreciation to the members of
the Senior Citizens Board for their service.
The motion was made by Councilman Anderson, seconded by Councilman
Riggins, tentative on it being legal for the City to do so, to delegate
the legal work involved in drawing up a charter of incorporation for the
Senior Citizens Center to the City Attorney and the City pay for same.
Councilman Curtis asked for more discussion and Mayor Jones, at this time,
called the Council into executive session.
Councilman Curtis moved to relieve Lucille McCleskey as Director of
the Senior Citizens Center. Councilman Stone suggested appointing this
three member board and let each side of the two factions get their people
to the recreation hall and from these people elect their own board from
both sides and run the Center as they see fit and let the City furnish
the building and the utilities.
Mayor Jones stated that as it presently stands that the Senior Citizens
Center is now legally back in the hands of the City and we presently have
two employees and when the certificate of incorporation is returned from
the State that immediately terminates both of those employees and the
Board can have its first meeting and select whoever they want with out
having the pressure of having someone already on. The feeling they
might have to hire them or not hire them.
Councilman Curtis withdrew his motion.
Councilman Smithey moved to hire Mrs. Rene`Waterberry as Director of
the Senior Citizens Center in order to keep the Center - operating until it
is incorporated. Councilman Curtis made the second.
Mayor Jones said that, in his opinion, it would be unfair to fire
Mrs. McCleskey and to put it directly under the Parks and Recreation Dept.
would be unfair to both. He also stated that, in his opinion, it would be
better to continue with the two employees as it is at present until such
time it is incorporated and" at that time specifically stated in the minutes,
that both employees be terminated and the new Board hire whoever they want
to.,
After quite a bit of discussion, Councilman Smithey called for a
question on the above motion. The vote was four for and four against
with Mayor Jones voting against. Motion did not carry.
Councilman Stone moved not to hire anyone, to put it directly under
the City Parks & Recreation Dept. during this transition period, with Ronnie
Isham as Director of the Senior Citizens Center. Councilman Curtis made the
second. The 'vote was 4 for and 14 against with Mayor Jones voting against.
The motion did not carry.
Councilman Chambers moved to retain the same two ladies, Mrs. McCleskey
and Mrs. Waterberry for the period of time it takes to select a three member
corporate committee and that this period of time be no longer than 30 days
and these two people terminate at time of incorporation or end of 30 days
whichever come first. Councilman Sexton made the second. Motion carried by
a vote of "5 for, 3 against.
Councilman Smithey moved that all funds presently held under the auspices
of the Senior Citizens Programs be turned over to the City to be placed in an
account under that name. Councilman Hammett made the second. Motion carried.
It was the consensus of the Council to select five people to act as
the incorporators and members of the Board. The names submitted were Bob
Thompson, Hazel Crowder, Bill Christian, Raymon 'Pack, Mrs. Sue Morris, Mrs.
Naomi Hickie, Bob Fain, Neal Guthrie, Virgil Yoakum, Seth Moore.
Councilman Stone moved that it it is legally possible that the City pay
the expenses for drawing up the charter of incorporation. Councilman Riggins
made the second. Motion carried. I£ this is not legally possible then the
Senior Citizens will pay for it themselves.
It was the consensus of the Council to call the people name to see if
they would serve. The ones that agree, put their names in a hat and the
first three drawn to be the incorporators and board members, the next two
to serve as board members.
Mayor Jones asked for nominations for Mayor Pro Tem. Those nominated
were: Raymond Anderson, Toby Stone, Jack Curtis, Charles Riggins, and
Larry Hammett. Councilman Stone moved that Charles Riggins be Mayor Pro
Tem. Councilman Chambers made the second. Motion carried - unanimously.
Meeting adjourned.
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