Council to evaluate interim city manager, attorney

The Odessa City Council could make Interim City Manager Michael Marrero’s appointment to the city’s top administrative role as soon as Tuesday.

Council members are scheduled to meet behind closed doors to evaluate Marrero’s performance and consider the appointment, according to a public notice of the Tuesday meeting posted at the end of the business day on Friday. The City Council has not considered other candidates, and Mayor David Turner said during his April 26 State of the City address that city officials were working on a contract to make Marrero the permanent city manager.

He was appointed to the interim post after the three-members of the City Council formed a majority in September to fire his predecessor, Richard Morton.

The discussion about the city manager position is just one of several matters the City Council is scheduled to discuss privately on Tuesday. They are also scheduled to evaluate the performance of Interim City Attorney Gary Landers, and consider any action on interim legal services. Landers, who is not seeking the job, assumed the post in March after his predecessor Larry Long was allowed to retire following a sexual harassment complaint corroborated by the city.

Landers is an employee of an Austin-based firm hired by the city to temporarily fill the post.

The City Council in February approved paying more than $25,000 a month to Landers’ employer, the Austin-based Bojorquez Law Firm, which specializes in municipal law. The city budgeted $130,000 for the legal services, which include Landers working in Odessa five days a week, but the contract can be terminated at anytime.

The Long scandal raised questions about the City Council’s handling of complaints relating to top city employees appointed directly by the elected officials.

And on Tuesday, the City Council is also scheduled to meet behind closed doors to “discuss procedures for the performance evaluation, appointment and process for complaints against appointees for all City Council appointees; and to consider possible action on any pending complaints against a Council appointee,” according to the agenda. It was not immediately clear why the City Council would seek to have a general discussion about procedures outside of the public view.

Finally, the City Council is scheduled to meet privately to consider a possible “acquisition or lease” of real estate — but no details were released Friday about the property.

IN OTHER BUSINESS, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL:

  • Discuss in a pre-meeting briefing session Open Meetings Act training, a transportation master plan and council agenda items.
  • Consider approving minutes from the April 24 City Council meeting and May 1 finance committee meeting.
  • Consider accepting donations from First United Pentecostal Church to Odessa Fire/Rescue and the Odessa Police Department.
  • Consider second and final approval of an ordinance temporarily lowering the speed limit on University Boulevard to 30 miles per hour during construction on the thoroughfare, which is being widened.
  • Consider first approval of an ordinance renewing a gas franchise with Atmos Energy Corporation.
  • Consider second and final approval of a request by Shihab Diais for original zoning of Retail-One on more than four acres northwest of the intersection of North Faudree Road and Windchase Street.
  • Consider second and final approval an ordinance incorporating the City of Odessa’s current gas and electricity franchises into the “Business Regulations” chapter of the City Code.
  • Consider second and final approval of an ordinance amending the City Code to change the name of the “Subdivision Requirements” chapter to the “Development Regulations” chapter and adding a new article codifying regulations already in effect that relate to streets, alleys, water, sewer and drainage improvements standards and requirements.
  • Consider renewal of an annual contract with Fox Scientific for laboratory supplies used in routine water and waste analysis that is expected to cost $60,000.
  • Consider approving an industrial agreement with Ryan Jones for development of an RV park on more than 2 acres of land located south of JBS Parkway.
  • Consider approving a $450,000 bid award to Willis Electric for installing traffic signals at the intersection of Dawn Avenue and Yukon Road and another at Faudree Road and Dorado Avenue.
  • Consider any board appointments.