STATE OF TEXAS             )( )(
                                                                                 COUNTY OF RUNNELS    )( )(
	                CITY OF BALLINGER        )( )(
	
	On this the 6th day of January 2020 the Ballinger City Council met in regular session at 5:30 p.m., in the Council Chamber of City Hall located at 700 Railroad Avenue with the following members present:

	          Dawni Seymore                   Mayor
                    Jason Gore                          Commissioner # 1
                    Richard “Rick” Morrish         Commissioner # 2
	         Bob McDaniel                       Mayor-Pro tem
	         Kristi Goetz      	           Commissioner # 4

	City Staff:

	         Bonita Shields                       City Secretary
	         Tommy Turney, Jr.                City Administrator
	         William “Pat” Chesser           City Attorney
	         Stanley Maresch                   Chief of Police
                      Chad Mercer                              Code Enforcement
	     	     	
	Others present- Elaine Paske, Jennie Fulton, Sheila Hilliard, Chad Hardy, Steven Gray, Jr., Benny Vela, Jr. , Linda Maynard, Charles Maynard, Benny Vela, Jr., Frank Ortega, Sue Yancy, B. Yancy, Robert Castillo, Belinda Castillo, Carl Williams, Robert Langston, Dustin Kresta, Jeff Smith, Lalanie Dohrse, Betty Arp, Brent Allen, Suzanne Riley, Mike Riley, Donnie Parsons, Brandon Vasquez, Travis Baird, Skipper Wheeless, Suzanne Torres, Stella Gonzales, Justin Busenhlner, Chris Sargent, Brett Willborn, Joe Lopez, Darlene Kelly, Joyce Spreen, Glenda Woods, Mr. and Mrs. Bob Johnson, Raymond Mota, Jason Goetz, Landy Cason, Martha Speckels, Phillip Arp, Drew Arp, Clyde Kresta, Chad Randers, Mario Mares- Citizens, Bill Hancock- Runnels County Register.

	CALL TO ORDER:
Mayor Dawni Seymore called the meeting to order at 5:34 p.m.

PRAYER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
	 Mayor Dawni Seymore lead the group in a word of prayer and the pledge of allegiance.

 EXECUTIVE SESSION:
Tommy Turney requested that the City Council skip down to the executive
session part of the meeting. Per the request the citizens present were asked to leave the Council Chambers. Council Member Bob McDaniel made the motion to enter into executive session at 5:36 p.m. as authorized by Texas Government Code, Section 551.074 Personnel Matters (Consider discipline, up to and including termination, against City Manager); Consider discipline, up to and including termination, against employees for use of credit cards); Consider reprimand of City Secretary); Consider reprimand of Police Chief); Section 551.071 Consultation with City Attorney (personnel Matters regarding the City Manager, City Secretary and employee credit card use). Second by Council Member Jason Gore and was unanimously approved.
The Council convened in  executive session until 6:24 p.m. and Council 
Member Kristi Goetz made the motion to close the session. Second by Council Member Rick Morrish and was unanimously approved.

ACTION AS A RESULT OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION:
Council Member Kristi Goetz made the motion to fire Tommy Turney, Jr.
and the City Manager effective immediately. Second by Council Member Rick Morrish and the motion carries with Mayor Dawni Seymore, Council Persons Rick Morrish and Kristi Goetz voting “Aye” and Council Persons Jason Gore and Bob McDaniel voting “Nay”.
After the vote Council Member Jason Gore and Bob McDaniel walked out of the meeting stating that they resigned.
Council Member Kristi Goetz made the motion to approve and finalize the reprimands on Bonita Shields, City Secretary and Stanley Maresch, Police Chief. Second by Council Member Rick Morrish and  was unanimously approved.

VISITORS:
Linda Maynard expressed her feeling about the firing of Tommy Turney, Jr.

THE CITY COUNCIL MAY DISCUSS, CONSIDER OR TAKE ACTION ON ADDING A SUB ACCOUNT FOR WATER AND GARBAGE PAYMENTS:
Mayor Dawni Seymore told the Council that she requested that this item be
put on the agenda to discuss if there is a possible way to put the revenue collected from water and garbage sales in a separate account to guarantee that the funds due to Republic and for bond payments are there when needed. After discussion, Council Member Rick Morrish made the motion to table any action on the item for further information. Second by Council Member Kristi Goetz and was unanimously approved.

THE CITY COUNCIL MAY DISCUSS, CONSIDER OR TAKE ACTION SELECTING AND AUDITOR: 
Comm. Kristi Goetz made the motion to table any action on this item until
the next Council meeting. Second by Comm. Rick Morrish and was unanimously approved.

THE CITY COUNCIL MAY CONSIDER, DISCUSS ACTION ON BUDGET AMENDMENTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2019-2020: 
Kristi Goetz stated that this was put on the agenda to amend the budget for
the cost for Tommy Turney, Jr. dependent health insurance cost. No action taken.

THE CITY COUNCIL MAY DISCUSS, CONSIDER OR TAKE ACTION ON POLICE K-9 HANDLER AGREEMENT:
Chief Stan Maresch reported to the Council that Justin Amaro requested
that this item be tabled until he has had time to visit with his attorney. Council Person Kristi Goetz made the motion to table the issue for further discussion. Second by Comm. Rick Morrish and was unanimously approved.

	THE CITY COUNCIL MAY DISCUSS, CONSIDER OR TAKE ACTION ON A POLICE CADET PROGRAM:
	Stan Maresch reported to the Council that he would like to investigate a police cadet program for Ballinger police department. He has advertised for an officer and did not receive any applications. There is a police academy school in San Angelo, and he would like to offer a position to some of the people attending the class. The academy takes six months to finish. If hired they would have to sign a contract listing the terms of the contract and length of time, they would be required to stay with the Ballinger Police department. Stanley also told the Council that there are not many people interested in being police officers and the pay is also an issue for getting them to work in Ballinger. They also talked about offering a sign on bonus for the cadets. After discussion, Council Member Rick Morrish made the motion to table any action on the issue for further information. Second by Council Member Kristi Goetz and was unanimously approved.

THE CITY COUNCIL MAY CONSIDER, DISCUSS OR TAKE ACTION TO APPROVE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT APPLYING FOR A JAG GRANT:
	Council Member Rick Morrish made the motion to approve the request of the police department applying for A JAG grant for the purchase of two new patrol vehicles for $120,000. Second by Council Member Kristi Goetz and was unanimously approved.

	THE CITY COUNCIL MAY CONSIDER, DISCUSS OR TAKE ACTION ON A CONTRACT TO HIRE AN IT PERSON:
	The Council discussed the need for an IT person for the City. They also discussed hiring someone part-time with the annual pay of $5,000-$10,000 annual. an RFP needs to be drawn up so that the City can advertise. After discussion, Council Person Rick Morrish made the motion for an RFP to be drawn up and advertise for a part-time IT Tech. Second by Council Member Kristi Goetz and was unanimously approved.

	THE CITY COUNCIL MAY DISCUSS, CONSIDER OR TAKE ACTION ON SETTING A DATE, TIME, AND PLACE FOR A CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP:
	Council Person Kristi Goetz made the motion to have a Council workshop at the Family Life Center on January 25, 2020 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Second by Council Person Rick Morrish and was unanimously approved.

	THE CITY COUNCIL MAY DISCUSS, CONSIDER AN UPDATE REPORT ON THE PERSONNEL POLICY HANDBOOK:
	Rick Morrish told the Council that a committee had been formed to review and make necessary changes to the personnel handbook last year. Tommy asked the Council to  hold off on final approval of the handbook until after the Charter election. The members on the committee included Brent Allen, Rick Morrish  Corey VanZandt, Malisia Goetz , Bonita Shields and Stanley Maresch. Mr. Morrish requested that another committee be formed to get the personnel handbook updated and finalized. After discussion, Council Member Kristi Goetz  made the motion to authorize the forming of another committee to look over the handbook and make the necessary change for Council review. Second by Council Member Rick Morrish and was unanimously approved.

	THE CITY COUNCIL MAY DISCUSS, CONSIDER OR TAKE ACTION ON THE CURRENT AGING REPORT:
	No action taken.

	THE CITY COUNCIL MAY DISCUSS, CONSIDER OR TAKE ACTION ON THE STATUS OF EXCAVATOR, AND OTHER CITY EQUIPMENT AND VEHICLES:
	No action taken.

	ADJOURN:
	Council Member Kristi Goetz made the motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:50 p.m. Second by Rick Morrish  and was unanimously approved.

			_________________
		     Dawni Seymore
                                                                                      Mayor

ATTEST:
______________
Bonita F. Shields
City Secretary