Lawyer Leslie Barras told Orange City Council members Tuesday they should have consulted with taxpayers before changing the city manager’s contract. The manager will now get two year’s salary if his contract is terminated.
Barras is a frequent critic of the city council and sued the city earlier in this year. She contends the council broke the city charter by buying the First Financial Bank building on 16th Street and moving city hall. A local state district judge ruled in favor of the city but the case is pending before a state court of appeals.
On July 26, the council met in closed-door executive session for an hour to review the contract of Dr. Shawn Oubre, who has been city manager for more than 10 years. When the council came back into open session, the members unanimously voted to change Oubre’s contract to double the severance pay.
Since 1988, the city of Orange has paid three different city managers a severance pay package ranging from six month’s salary, a standard in the 1980s, to a full year’s salary.
Tuesday, Barras spoke during the citizen comment part of the council meeting. She said the Texas Municipal League recommends a year’s pay as a severance for a city manager’s contract.
She said the Orange council’s contract change is not financially sound. A payout would be “a significant amount” of money, she said.
Council members were not allowed to respond to Barras under the Texas Open Meetings Act because the subject was not on the public agenda.
Also during the public comments time, Matt Just praised the council for opening the natatorium during the summer. He said swimming in the morning has helped him recover from an injury. In the afternoons he takes his young sons. One is a special needs son who has learned to swim and improved during the summer because of the time in the pool. He commented on how friendly and nice the lifeguards are.
Though he would like for the pool to be open year-round, he understands that it can’t be. Still, he wants the city to continue to keep the pool open during summers.
Last year, the city did not open the pool because of a lack of lifeguards. This year, the council agreed to increase the pay for lifeguards and pay for their training. This is the last week the pool will be open.
During the regular business part of the meeting, the council approved a resolution to begin the annexation process for 5.3 acres along Highway 62 north of Interstate 10.
The owners of the land requested the annexation so they can sell the property for a Blue Beacon Truck Wash. A public hearing on the annexation will be held in September.
-Margaret Toal, KOGT-
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