City Manager Issue Still Hot Topic in Corsicana

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By Susan Wilson

The September 23 Corsicana City Council meeting largely dealt with internal changes required as the City Manager and Acting Director of Finance are departing and as such, the removal of outgoing authorized representatives for various depositories and financial accounts. New proposed designated authorized representatives passed, but not unanimously.
Prior, public hearings took place with four citizens speaking. Terry Garner addressed the council, reminding of the reason he attends, which he feels is to hold the council responsible. He reported a discrepancy between the live meeting recording on July 22 to the video uploaded to the city’s site several days later, in which 18 seconds had been omitted, therefore altering the public record of the meeting and well as omitting the content during that time dropped from minutes. He stated that he felt it was horrible that the city would do that, and he has informed both the Attorney General’s office and the Department of Public Safety through the Texas Rangers. The topic omitted was commentary by Councilwoman Shayla Johnson discussing the City Manager’s last day as September 13. Mr. Garner also called out Councilman Woolsey, commenting on the chaos he created from previous meeting and local statements, and said that “out of that, we will have a pride festival in Corsicana.”
City Engineer Darwin Myers spoke, flanked by the city’s department directors, who wanted to stand together on Connie Standridge’s last city council meeting to “publicly thank you for your years of service to the city of Corsicana. Your priorities and care for the citizens is well known and respected in City Hall,” Myers said. “Thank you again for the differences you made in Corsicana and in the lives of so many who call Corsicana home.”
Public Hearings also included comments on the Zoning Ordinance proposed to regulate the zoning of tobacco retail stores within the city of Corsicana, which was previously questioned for additional information by Councilman Jones.
Both Aimee Kasprzyk, Board President of The Warehouse Living Arts Center, and Barbara Kelley, Vice-President, spoke in favor of the regulation. Ms. Kasprzyk, also Director of Fine Arts at CISD spoke about guiding and spurring on the growth of Corsicana’s Downtown as a destination, saying that she felt these businesses already exist in other parts of the city. Ms. Kelley, who spoke on this subject at the last city council meeting, reiterated her feeling about the “identity of our city and the arts district”, and to “keep Corsicana moving forward and to think about what the future of our city looks like.”
An amendment to the ordinance by Councilman Woolsey for “a specific use permit may be issued for variations of this definition and other zonings” passed.
A motion to approve the named Interim City Manager, Jim Holgerson effective October 2 was made by Councilman Woolsey and seconded by Councilman Jones, and passed. Holgerson was recommend through Strategic Government Resources which specialized in the hiring process of City Managers and Interims.
A motion was made to approve Suru Patel, General Manager/Owner of Comfort Inn to the Corsicana Visitors Bureau Board to replace General Manager/Owner of Best Western, Jignesh Patel for the remainder of his term, and it was approved 4-1.
The council was asked to consider, and approved, the appointment of Val Rich as Finance Director and City Secretary as of October 1. City Manager Standridge spoke about his credentials and knowledge, particularly of the new Finance software implementation, making him uniquely qualified.
The mayor announced two upcoming events, the Economic Development Partnership meeting October 1 and the Airsho October 12. He commented on the continuing search for finalists for City Manager, and the panel will consist of the council as well as a citizens panel. He plans to update citizens on a bi-monthly basis on the progress.
The meeting closed with Senior Councilman Jeff Smith reading a Proclamation with former mayors Chuck McClanahan and Clifford “Buster” Brown joining Mayor Fletcher to Connie Standridge. The Proclamation recognized Connie for her 20 plus years of service to the community, reminding of the financial situation she inherited with her role acceptance in 2003, when, Smith read “the city was two weeks from bankruptcy, and she leaves with a surplus of more than $6 million, along with a budget surplus every year except during the national financial crises of 2008, and an excellent bond rating.”
The proclamation read “Whereas, the adage “leave a place better than you found it” certainly holds true for Connie, therefore it is proclaimed on this day, September 23, as Connie Standridge Day.”
Standridge spoke, saying she is the luckiest person in the world. “I’ve been blessed to be able to come back to my home and serve my community, and I had great people to work for, and I appreciate you so much. I am not happy to be leaving, but I do feel like I’m blessed.”