The behind closed-doors session went on for about three hours while Mrs. Barrientos was being given her evaluation and continued for another three hours until just before midnight when members of council emerged from the conference room and filed into the chambers with stern and somewhat stoic expressions on their individual faces.
Mayor Ramsey English-Cantu stepped down from his chair in order to adamantly make the motion to suspend Barrientos who had served as city manager for approximately two years upon the sudden resignation of former City Manager Daniel Valenzuela in the midst of the gasoline scandal that rocked the city back in 2012 and only saw the indictment of five individuals.
"At this time I will relinquish the chair position to make a motion at this time to suspend effective immediately and authorize legal counsel to work out terms as discussed in executive session. The city council will make a final decision at our next meeting on Tuesday, August 18th, 2015 and I would further make a motion to appoint in the acting phase of the City Manager position Mr. Hector Chavez Executive Director of Public Works as acting city manager until further notice."
City Councilwoman Gloria Hernandez was quick to vociferously second the motion.
"So the motion is to suspend the city manager immediately?", asked Councilman Luis Sifuentes.
"Yes, Sir," replied the mayor. "As discussed in executive session," added City Secretary Imelda Rodriguez. When the mayor asked for the vote, four raised their right hand to suspend Mrs. Barrientos, Hernandez, Yolanda Perales Ramon, councilman Rudy Villalpando and Mayor Cantu.
Councilman Luis Sifuentes was the only dissenting vote and by a 4-1 count, Public Works Director Hector Chavez was named Interim City Manager thus ending Barrientos' tenure at a very important point in the city's implementation of approximately $10 million in capital improvement projects. "What I can say is that the council voted to bring to finality to this position and to end her future with the City of Eagle Pass. This is a process and we are looking into what the next steps are," said Mayor Cantu early Wednesday morning. When asked if they've had meetings this long in executive session Mayor Cantu said they had, "I understand that with only one item on the agenda, we did take long, but we were discussing who would be the best person to manage the policies that we as a council direct. We only want to be sure that we follow the steps that are in the best interest of the citizens of Eagle Pass."
"First of all I want to thank City Council for having the confidence in me and I hope to do the best in my ability," said Chavez, "Right now I hope to meet with the mayor as to ask what exactly is expected of me. We are going to begin by analyzing what is happening at this time with this situation." He feels that a city or an entity functions as well as its department heads lead, and the departments are as good as its employees. "I feel if we respect this philosophy, everything should turn out for the best. I hope I can work with all department heads to continue doing the best for the community. As you can see, I just came in. I need to be briefed as to what is to be done and what needs to be addressed. I don't know how long I'll be here, but I want to do my best, not only for the city but for its citizens and for our employees." Chavez has stepped into the city manager's position on three occasions while working for the City of Eagle Pass.
Suspenden a City Manager Gloria Barrientos
Lo que era un secreto a voces se hizo ralidad, se suspendio a Gloria Barrientos como City Manager de la ciudad despues de haber estado casi 4 años en esta posicion.
Aparentemente no fue una decision fácil ya que en la junta del pasado martes existía un solo tema “evaluar el trabajo de la Sra. Barrientos” en sesion ejecutiva a puerta cerrada las discusiones del estira y afloja se prolongaron hasta las 11:30p.m. Cuando salieron los miembros del concilio, el Mayor English Cantu dijo que en sesion ejecutiva se habia acordado remover a Gloria Barrientos de su posicion y en su lugar se nombró a Hector Chavez como interino, el mismo Mayor hizo la moción fue secundada por la Licenciada Gloria Hernandez , al final hubo 4 votos a favor y Luis Sifuentes fue el unico voto encontra. El miercoles por la mañana entrevistamos al Mayor quien dijo que el martes 18 habrá una junta especial y daran a conocer una información mas amplia sobre el despido de la Sra. Barrientos.
El miercoles por la mañana llego muy temprano Hector Chavez para tomar posesion como City Manager Interino y dijo que lo primero que haria es una junta con el Mayor English Cantú para saber que indicaciones le daran, y dijo estar conciente que va a estar solo una temporada corta mientras que se busca un nuevo City Manager, y despues realizo junta con todos los jefes de departamentos y dijo “Yo siempre he pensado que la ciudad esta asi por sus jefes de departamentos y ellos estan como estan por sus empleados y con los 25 años que tengo de estar tabajando, siempre he dicho que tenemos muy buenos empleados.
Preguntamos al Sr. Chavez si para el nuevo jefe de bomberos será él quien toma la decision de elegirlo o se tendran que esperar hasta que llegue el nuevo city manager, y contestó que él piensa que es un departamento con muchos empleados y que no pueden estar sin un jefe para que todo camine correctamente y piensa que es imortante que entre mas pronto se seleccione el jefe de bomberos es mejor para que ese departamento continue trabjando correctamente. Esta es la tercera vez que Hector Chavez es invitado a trabajar como City Manager Interino.