Just four days following the Monday, Dec. 14 City of Wharton Council meeting, former Public Works Director John Plaia submitted his resignation.
The resignation came after council members voiced concerns and disagreed with Plaia’s satisfaction with work completed in the 2020 Street Improvement Project. (To read more about council’s decision, click here.)
The city posted the job opening on Monday, Dec. 28 and is currently accepting applications.
Plaia’s departure leaves city personnel and council working to fill two important positions rather quickly.
Council will continue its search for City Manager Andres Garza Jr.’s replacement, as well as: hear from Interim Public Works Director Amy Horelica on change notices to the 2020 Street Improvement Project; consider city financial updates, resolutions; and other agenda items at tonight’s regularly-scheduled and first Wharton City Council meeting of 2021.
The posted agenda for the Monday, Jan. 11 Wharton City Council is as follows:
Review and Consider:
1. Reading of the minutes from the regular meeting held December 14, 2020 and special meeting held December 21, 2020.
2. City of Wharton Financial Report for November 2020.
3. Ordinance: An ordinance approving an amendment to the City of Wharton Budget October 1, 2019 – September 30, 2020.
4. Resolution: A resolution of the Wharton City Council implementing the second phase of City Employee Salary Adjustments and authorizing the City Manager of the City of Wharton to execute all documents related to said implementation.
5. COVID-19 Update.
6. Resolution: A resolution of the Wharton City Council approving an extension of the Declaration of Disaster signed on March 16, 2020 in accordance with Texas Government Code §418.l08(a).
7. Resolution: A resolution of the Wharton City Council approving an Affiliation Agreement pertaining specifically to EMS Education and the City of Wharton EMS assuming the role of Clinical Affiliation for Field Internship between the City of Wharton and the Wharton County Junior College and authorizing the City Manager to execute the agreement.
8. Request by Mr. Oscar Alarcon, 500 Davis St., Wharton, Block 22, Lot 1A for 3’ side lot building line setback variance from the required 5’ for new residential construction.
9. Resolution: Resolution authorizing resale of property held in trust by the City of Wharton, Texas, Trustee.
10. Resolution: A resolution of the Wharton City Council amending City of Wharton Resolution No. 2020-39 for the continuation of the City of Wharton Temporary Policy and Procedures: HR 6201 Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and Emergency
Paid Sick Leave (ESick) Act & Emergency Family and Medical Leave (EFMLA) Expansion Act and setting an effective date.
11. Resolution: A resolution of the Wharton City Council approving a Memorandum of Understanding (“Agreement”) between Texas Community Watershed Partners as a program of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the City of Wharton; and authorizing the Mayor of the City of Wharton to execute said agreement.
12. Disaster Debris Management, Monitoring and Recovery Services:
A. Resolution: A resolution of the Wharton City Council approving a one-year extension for the City of Wharton Disaster Debris Management and Monitoring Services and authorizing the Mayor of the City of Wharton to execute all documents relating to said contract.
B. Resolution: A resolution of the Wharton City Council approving a one-year extension for the City of Wharton Disaster Debris Recovery Services and authorizing the Mayor of the City of Wharton to execute all documents relating to said contract.
13. Resolution: A resolution of the Wharton City Council accepting the Donation Deed from the Wharton Economic Development Corporation for certain properties for the City of Wharton FM 1301 Extension Project and authorizing the Mayor of the City of Wharton to execute the agreement.
14. City of Wharton 2020 Street Improvement Project:
A. Change Order No. 2.
15. Appointments and Resignations to the City of Wharton Boards, Commissions and Committees:
A. Building Standards Commission.
B. Planning Commission.
C. Plumbing and Mechanical Board.
D. Housing Finance Corporation.
16. City Council Boards, Commissions and Committee Reports:
A. Finance Committee Meeting held December 14, 2020.
B. Public Works Committee Meeting held December 14, 2020.
Executive Session:
17. City Council may adjourn into an Executive Session in accordance with Section 551.074 of the Local Government Code, Revised Civil Statutes of Texas. Final action, decision, or vote, if any with regard to any matter considered in Executive Session shall be made in Open Meeting.
Discussion:
A. To deliberate the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of a public officer or employee:
1. New City Manager.
2. Current City Manager Employment Agreement.
Return to Open Session:
18. Action on items discussed in Executive Session:
A. Appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of a public officer or employee:
1. New City Manager.
2. Current City Manager Employment Agreement.
Adjournment.
For meeting minutes, agendas and packets, visit www.cityofwharton.com and for live coverage of the meeting, visit The County Gin on Facebook!
