[I. INVOCATION, PLEDGE & ROLL CALL]
[00:00:07]
I THINK THAT WE ARE RECORDING, RIGHT? AM I CORRECT? SO WE ARE READY TO PROCEED.
CITY ATTORNEY IS COMING, AND I'D LIKE TO SAY GOOD MORNING TO EACH OF YOU.
YOU ARE HERE IN THE, UH, CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS HERE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AT 4 44 FOURTH STREET FOR OUR SPECIAL MEETING ON TODAY, MAY 17TH, WITH WHICH ACTUALLY SHOULD HAVE BEGUN SIX MINUTES AGO AT 10 30.
IT IS NOW 10 36, AND WE WILL BEGIN THE MEETING.
UH, THIS MEETING MAY BE ATTENDED AND ACCESSED THROUGH THE MEDIUMS OF, UH, TELEPHONIC OR EVEN VIDEO CONFERENCE.
HOWEVER, YOU MUST FIRST DIAL 8 7 7 8 5 3 5 2 4 7 OR 8 8 8 7 8 8 0 0 9 9, AND YOU WOULD ENTER THE MEETING ID NUMBER OF 8 5 3 8 1 2 7 6 6 6 7, AND THE PASSCODE OF 1 8 95 4 9.
AND YOU WILL BE ALLOWED TO ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETING, EXCUSE ME, IN THIS MEETING.
WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACTS, AND IF YOU HAVE A REQUEST FOR SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS, HOWEVER IT MUST BE DONE 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE MEETING, YOU MUST CALL THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE AT 4 0 9 9 8 3 8 1 1 5 AND LET YOUR, UH, REQUEST BE KNOWN TO THAT OFFICE, AND THEY WILL DO ALL WITHIN THEIR POWERS TO ACCOMMODATE YOU WITH YOUR REQUEST FOR SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS.
WITH ALL OF THIS BEING SAID, WE ARE GOING TO BEGIN THE MEETING WITH AN INVOCATION, EXCUSE ME, AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
UH, COUNCILMAN FRANK, WOULD YOU BE SO KIND AS TO, TO, UH, GIVE US THE INVOCATION TODAY? YES.
PLEASE LET US BOW ALL WISE IN ETERNAL GOD, OUR FATHER, HOW GRATEFUL WE ARE LORD, FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO COME INTO YOUR PRESENCE.
WE ARE SO GRATEFUL, HEAVENLY FATHER, FOR ALL THAT YOU PROVIDE FOR US AS A CITY, AS A STATE, AND AS A NATION.
AND SO AS WE COME ON TODAY, GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR, UH, JUST BEING OVER US AND WATCHING OUT FOR US ON A DAILY BASIS.
NOW, GOD, GIVE US WISDOM AS WE DO THE BUSINESS OF OUR CITY.
PROTECT OUR FAMILY, WATCH OVER US, AND KEEP OUR NATION.
PLEASE JOIN US IN UNISON WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INDULGENCE IN OUR OPENING CEREMONY AT THIS TIME, WE WERE MOVED TO ITEM TWO.
MAYOR BART, PRESENT MAYOR PRO.
OKAY, WE WILL MOVE TO, UH, ITEM NUMBER TWO.
UH, ITEMS REQUIRING INDIVIDUAL ACTION.
[II. (A) Travel Expense Reports Request For Pre-Approval Of Travel Pursuant To 78-269 (b)(8) Of The Code Of Ordinances (A1) Mayor Thurman Bartie, Emergency Management Director Pursuant To Texas Government Code 418.1015 Texas Department Of Emergency Management Conference Fort Worth, TX May 29 – June 3, 2023 $1,590.17]
TRAVEL EXPENSE REPORT, REQUEST FOR, UH, PRE-APPROVAL OF TRAVEL, UH, PURSUANT TO, EXCUSE ME, 78 DASH 2 69, SUBSECTION B AND EIGHT OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES.AND THIS IS MAYOR BOK, UH, FOR THE, WHO IS THE, AND I AM THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR AND IS PURSUANT TO THE GOVERNMENT CODE FOUR 18.10 15, THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
WE HAVE A CONFERENCE IN FOURTH WORTH, TEXAS, MAY 29TH THROUGH JUNE 3RD.
IT, IT IS A FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OF $1,590 AND 17.
AND I NEED TO GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL ON THAT.
MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN KEN LAW SECONDARY.
IT BEEN MOVED IN SECOND THAT WE WOULD ACCEPT, UH, EXCUSE ME, ITEMS, UH, A ONE, UH, WE READY FOR QUESTIONING? YES, MAYOR, GO RIGHT AHEAD.
UH, THIS PARTICULAR CONFERENCE, MAYOR, YOU ARE THE DIRECTOR OF THIS, UH, THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
AM I UNDERSTANDING CORRECTLY? THAT'S CORRECT.
AND THE KNOWLEDGE THAT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE AND BRING BACK
[00:05:01]
TO THE CITY IS BASED UPON SOME OF THE THINGS THEY DO ON STATEWIDE, AM I UNDERSTANDING? RIGHT.IT'S BASICALLY A, A MEETING OF TRAINING AND OTHER, UH, I GUESS TENANTS THAT ARE INVOLVED WITH EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
HOPEFULLY THEY'LL NEVER, YOU KNOW, WE NEVER HAVE TO USE THE SKILLS.
AND, UH, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE AUDIENCE KNOW THAT.
AND THE COMMUNITY ALSO KNOWS THAT OKAY.
THAT YOU ARE THE DIRECTOR AND THAT, UH, OTHER CITIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY, TEXAS MAY HAVE SOME THINGS OR MAY BE DOING SOME THINGS THAT WE MAY NOT BE AWARE.
SO THIS IS GONNA BENEFIT THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
AND, UH, ALSO TO ADD TO THAT, WE HAVE SEVERAL STAFF MEMBERS WHO WILL BE ATTENDING THIS BECAUSE THE STAFF ACTUALLY PERFORMED DUTIES THAT GO ALONG WITH, UH, WHAT OCCURS DURING, UH, MANAGEMENT DOING EMERGENCIES.
SO WE HAVE, I I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT NUMBER, BUT SEVERAL STAFF, UH, PERSONS ARE GOING BE, UH, ACCOMPANYING ME TO THIS MEETING.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS ONE MORE QUESTION, MA'AM, GO RIGHT AHEAD.
WILL THE MAYOR PROTE BE GOING TO THIS MEETING AS WELL? OKAY.
UH, WILL SHE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO THE INCOMING MAYOR PROTE? BECAUSE ONE OF, AND THE REASON WHY I ASKED THAT WAS WAS BECAUSE DURING THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, THE MAYOR IS THE INDIVIDUAL.
YOU ARE THE GO-TO PERSON IN AN EMERGENCY.
AND SO IN, IN CASE SOMETHING WOULD HAPPEN AND TRANSPIRE AS IT DID DURING COVID, UM, OKAY.
YOU KNOW, THE EMERGENCY, THE MAYOR PRO WOULD BE FILLING IN FOR YOU.
HAVE A, WE WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY AT OUR NEXT MEETING TO INCLUDE, UH, ANY OTHER PERSON, COUNCIL PERSON WHO WOULD, UH, WISH TO ATTEND THE, UH, THE TRAINING.
BUT WE WOULD DO THAT ON THE 23RD.
THIS, UH, TRIP, UH, THE MONIES FOR THE TRIP HAS ALREADY BEEN BUDGETED FOR THIS YEAR.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON IT? NOW? ARE ANY QUESTIONS READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
SO, AS ORDER, WE WOULD ACCEPT ITEM A ONE IN NORMAL NUMERAL TWO.
NEXT WE HAVE, UH, RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES.
[II.B. (1) P.R. No. 23157 – A Resolution Appointing And/Or Reappointing A Member Or Members To The Downtown Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone TIRZ #1 Board]
WE HAVE A RESOLUTION APPOINTED AND A REAPPOINTED, A MEMBER OR MEMBERS THROUGH THE DOWNTOWN, UH, TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT CHARGES, BOARD NUMBER ONE AND A CITY ATTORNEY OR, UH, CITY OF SECRETARY.WE HAVE A NAME FOR THE, UH, IT WOULD BE FOR THE COUNCIL TO INSERT THE NAME.
AND DID, DID, DID WE HAVE A NAME THAT HAD BEEN, UH, OFFERED A CITY, CITY ATTORNEY? UH, I HAD ASKED.
WE, I THINK, UH, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, COUNCILMAN, UH, FRANK HADN'T MADE AN INQUIRY ABOUT IT, BUT AT THIS TIME IT WOULD BE FOR THE COUNCIL TO DECIDE.
SO, AND I, I JUST WANT TO HAVE THAT INCLUDED IN, IN THE, IN, IN THE, UH, IN THE MOTION IF WE COULD COUNCILMAN KEN LAW.
BECAUSE, UH, WE KNOW THAT, UH, COUNCILWOMAN, UH, MOSES IS GONNA BE OFF.
SO, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
BUT AT, AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME, UH, COUNCILMAN FRANK SHOWED HIS INTEREST IN WANTING TO BE ON THE TURF, UH, SINCE MOSES IS GONNA BE OFF.
SO I, I THINK THAT IF WE HAD ANY DISCUSSION, THIS WOULD BE THE TIME TO BRING IT UP AND IF SOMEONE ELSE WANTED TO DO IT, BUT AT THIS TIME, COUNCILMAN FRANK WILL BE THE PERSON HE VOLUNTEER.
SO COUNCILMAN FRANK, WE WOULD BE, UH, OKAY.
OR YOU WOULD BE OKAY WITH US INSERTING YOUR NAME IN THIS AND EVERYONE THAT'S GOOD.
SAY THE NAME OF COUNCILMAN DONALD FRANK, UH, WOULD BE INCLUDED IN PR NUMBER 23 1 57.
THAT'S BEING THE NEW APPOINTEE FOR THE, UH, DOWNTOWN TAX INCREMENT, UH, REINVESTMENT ZONE.
AND I THINK THAT'S WAS THE QUESTION.
READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
[II.B. (2) P.R. No. 23158 – A Resolution Approving The City Of Port Arthur’s Application For Chapter 380 Programs And Other Related Incentives]
WE HAVE PR NUMBER 23 1 58.IT IS A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR'S APPLICATION FOR CHAPTER THREE 80 PROGRAMS AND OTHER RELATED INCENTIVES OF MAY GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN FRANK.
MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN MARKS SO MOVED.
IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND THAT WE WOULD ACCEPT PR NUMBER 23 1 58 AS READ REAL, READY FOR QUESTIONING? WE HAVE AN TO THE ATTORNEY.
UH, JUST, JUST IN CASE, JUST TO CLARIFY.
THIS IS THE APPLICATION THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR A LONG TIME.
AND WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT GOT ON.
AND THIS IS JUST A GENERIC, UH, APPLICATION FOR WHEN SOMEONE APPLIES FOR AN INCENTIVE.
IT, IT HAS, IT'S ABOUT 12 PAGES AND IT INCLUDES EVERYTHING THAT SOMEONE WOULD NEED.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD BE THE BASIS FOR ANY TYPE OF INCENTIVE.
WE WOULD HAVE THE CORRECT INFORMATION.
I JUST HAVE OKAY, WE, UH, NO OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS.
[00:10:02]
AYES ARGUED ACCEPT PR NUMBER 23 1 58 AS READ.[II.B. (3) P.O. No. 7148 – An Ordinance Canvassing The Returns And Declaring The Results Of The General Election, Held On May 6, 2023 For The Purpose Of Electing Councilmembers For Districts 1, 2, 3, 4 And AtLarge Positions 5 And 6, In The City Of Port Arthur, Texas And Ordering A Runoff Election On June 24, 2023, For The Purpose Of Electing Councilmembers For Districts 3 And 4 And Providing For The Publication Of The Election Order And Notice]
HAVE ONE PAGE TWO, UH, ITEM, UH, PO NUMBER 71 48 IN ORDINANCE, CANVASING THE RETURNS AND DECLARING THE RESULTS OF THE GENERAL ELECTION HELD ON MAY 6TH, 2023 FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELECTION COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR DISTRICTS 1, 2, 3, 4, AND AT LARGE POSITIONS FIVE AND SIX IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, AND ORDERING, EXCUSE ME, A RUNOFF ELECTION ON JUNE 24TH, 2023.THE PURPOSE OF ELECT FOR THE PURPOSE, RATHER OF ELECTING COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR DISTRICTS THREE AND FOUR AND PROVIDING FOR THE PUBLICATION OF THE ELECTION ORDINANCE.
AND IT'S ALSO DONE IN A BILINGUAL MANNER IN SPANISH, UH, MAY GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.
MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN? UH, KEN LAW SECONDARY.
IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND THAT WE WOULD ACCEPT ITEM NUMBER THREE, WHICH IS PO NUMBER 7 1 4 8.
WE READY FOR QUESTION? THERE AREN'T ANY QUESTIONS.
WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
ANY OPPOSERS AUTHOR THIS ORDER? WE WOULD ACCEPT PO NUMBER 71 48 AS PRESENTED.
[II.B. (4) P.R. No. 23160 – A Resolution Documenting That Pursuant To The Amendment Of Section 9 Of Article II Of The City Charter Approved At The May 2, 1992 City Election In The City Of Port Arthur, Texas, District 2 Councilmember Shall Serve As Mayor Pro Tem And Shall Act As Mayor During The Absence Or Disability Of The Mayor And Shall Serve As Mayor Pro Tem Until May 2024]
WE HAVE PO NUMBER 23 1 60 A RESOLUTION DOCUMENTING THAT PURSUANT TO THE AMENDMENT OF SECTION NINE OF ARTICLE TWO OF THE CITY CHARTER APPROVED AT THE MAY 2ND, 1992, CITY LEXING IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR TEX, TEXAS DISTRICT TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, SHALL SERVE AS MAYOR PROTE, UH, AND SHALL ACT AS MAYOR DURING THE ABSENCE OR DISABILITY OF THE MAYOR, AND SHALL SERVE AS MAYOR PROTE UNTIL MAY OF 2024.MAY I GET A, UH, MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN FRANK MOTION? MA'AM, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN MARKS SECOND.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD ACCEPT, EXCUSE ME, P R NUMBER 23 1 60.
WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR, AYE.
WE WOULD ACCEPT P E R NUMBER 23 1 60
[III. SWEARING IN OF COUNCILMEMBERS & MAYOR PRO TEM]
AS RED.NOW WE ARE TO THE PART OF THE SWEARING IN OF COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND ONE WOULD BE ACTUALLY MAYOR PRO KIM AS WELL.
HOWEVER, BEFORE WE WOULD BEGIN THIS, WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS OFFER THANKS ON BEHALF OF THE COUNCIL, UH, TO OUR PRESENT AND CURRENT MAYOR PRO TEAM WHO, UH, HAS MADE A DECISION, OR SHE DID MAKE THE DECISION NOT TO SEEK REELECTION FOR HER OFFICE AND TO MOVE BACK IN CIVILIAN PRIVATE LIFE IN THE CITY OF POOR OTHER
SO, BUT WITHOUT ANY FURTHER ADO, UH, MAYOR PROTEL HOMES.
I JUST WANNA SAY TO THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AS COUNCIL MEMBER IN A CITY THAT I NOT ONLY GREW UP IN, BUT IN A DISTRICT THAT I WAS RAISED IN THE, I HAVE WORKED IN PUBLIC SERVICE FOR OVER 40 YEARS OF MY LIFE.
I STARTED OUT AS A PHLEBOTOMIST AT THE CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND I RETIRED AS, UM, THE HEALTH DIRECTOR THERE.
I HAVE WORKED HURRICANES, I HAVE WORKED STORMS, I HAVE, UM, DONE JUST A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING IN MY SERVICE TO THIS COMMUNITY.
BUT THE MOST HUMBLING PART OF MY CAREER WAS TO SERVE AS A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER WITH THIS GROUP OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAVE, AND I SAID I WASN'T GONNA CRY, BUT OF COURSE,
I THINK WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED MUCH IN THE PAST THREE YEARS.
I THINK THAT WE HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THIS COMMUNITY IN THE PAST THREE YEARS.
I AM NOT LEAVING THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
I WILL STILL BE HERE AND I WILL BE AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY, BUT I WILL BE SERVING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DANCE.
[00:15:01]
SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY AS PARTING WORDS TO OUR SEATED COUNCIL MEMBERS AND TO OUR INCOMING COUNCIL MEMBERS, I CHALLENGE YOU TO CONTINUE THE WORK THAT MANY OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS PRIOR TO YOU HAVE STARTED AND TO WORK TOGETHER COLLECTIVELY IN MAKING DECISIONS THAT MAKE, AS I HAVE ALWAYS SAID, PORT ARTHUR THE BEST.IT CAN BE BECAUSE YOU HAVE SOME OF THE BEST STAFF MEMBERS.
I'M GONNA LIST THREE, BUT I, AND I'M ONLY LISTING THEM BECAUSE I WORK DIRECTLY WITH THEM.
BUT THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR HAS AMAZING STAFF MEMBERS.
I THANK YOU CITY MANAGER FOR CHALLENGING ME.
I THANK YOU CITY ATTORNEY FOR ALWAYS GIVING ME DIRECTION.
AND CITY SECRETARY, I THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS BEING BY MY SIDE.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU, AND I APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR ME.
APPROACH HIM AND FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE.
I BELIEVE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A, UH, RECEPTION FOLLOWING THIS.
AND WE WOULD HAVE TO ACTUALLY ALLOW THE NEWCOMERS TO JOIN IN WHATEVER WAS REALLY FOR YOU,
AND WE CAN ADDRESS, GO RIGHT AHEAD.
UH, UH, MAYOR PROTE, UH, YOU ALWAYS HAVE BEEN, UH, THAT PERSON I WOULD GO TO AS FAR AS MANAGEMENT.
YOU WERE DIRECTOR OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN BEAUMONT FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
UH, AS FAR AS YOUR, YOUR EXPERTISE AND UNDERSTANDING MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS, MANY TIMES I'VE CALLED YOU, YOU WERE THERE FOR ME.
WHEN I GOT THE CALL FROM YOU AND YOU SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU WANTED TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH GRANDKIDS AND THE FAMILY AND, YOU KNOW, YOUR TIME HAS COME, I WAS KIND OF SAD ABOUT THAT BECAUSE LOOKING TO MY LEFT, I KNEW THAT I CAN ALWAYS GET AN ANSWER AND STRAIGHTFORWARD ANSWER.
UH, IT'S A BITTERSWEET THING FOR ME TODAY.
BUT I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, GOD HAS SOME BIGGER PLANS FOR YOU.
AND YOU TOLD ME, THOMAS, LOOK, I'M A PHONE CALL AWAY.
I REALLY, SO THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS OF BEING ON THIS COHORT WITH US.
TO BE IN POLITICS, YOU HAVE TO HAVE THICK SKIN.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN OPEN EAR, ANYWHERE YOU GO, H E B, PDOS, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU AT.
YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE, AND THE PEOPLE ARE GONNA DICTATE WHAT THEY REALLY NEED.
SO, UH, WITH THAT, I LIKE TO SAY GOOD LUCK TO YOU, AND IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS WORKING WITH YOU.
UH, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'LL JUST SAY INGRID RATHER THAN MAYOR PRO TIM, BECAUSE WE GO WAY BACK, WAY BACK.
AND WE STARTED THIS JOURNEY IN MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT ON THE EDC TOGETHER, AND THEN WE MOVED OVER HERE, UH, TOGETHER, UH, EVEN THOUGH YOU HAD TO HAVE A RUNOFF.
BUT DURING THOSE, IT'S ABOUT SIX AND A HALF YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING HERE, UH, EDC AND CITY COUNCIL.
SOME MAJOR EVENTS, PROJECTS HAVE TAKEN PLACE, AND WE HAD OUR FINGERS IN THAT PIE.
AND WE'D LIKE TO THINK, I'D LIKE TO THINK THAT WE, WE, WE DID A, AN A VERY GOOD JOB.
UH, WE'VE MOVED SOME THINGS FORWARD THAT, THAT WERE ALREADY IN PLACE.
UH, WE, WE INITIATED SOME THINGS TOGETHER, UH, THAT, UH, ARE GOING TO BENEFIT THE CITY.
UH, YOU'VE WORKED TIRELESSLY WITH THIS COUNCIL.
UH, WE SPENT MANY HOURS ON THE PHONE, UH, TRYING TO DETERMINE HOW WE WERE GOING TO, UH, TO MOVE FORWARD ON CERTAIN ISSUES, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE DOING WHAT WAS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THIS CITY.
AND YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A SOUNDING BOARD.
UH, WE DID NOT ALWAYS AGREE, BUT WE ALWAYS WERE ABLE TO COME TO SOME TYPE OF CONSENSUS AND MIDDLE GROUND.
[00:20:01]
VOTED SEVERAL TIMES IN DIFFERENT WAYS, WE STILL REMAIN CORDIAL AND WE STILL ARE FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES.AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WHEN WE RAN, UH, THAT THE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR WANTED, THEY WANTED THE RANKOR AND THE, THE, THE DIVISIVENESS UP HERE ON AADE TO BE TAMPED DOWN, TO BE ACTUALLY, UH, THIS COUNCIL WOULD ACT AND TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS IN A WAY THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED, UH, PROFESSIONAL, IF YOU WILL.
AND, AND, AND THOSE WORDS RANG, RANG, RANG TRUE TO ALL OF US.
AND YOU EPITOMIZED THAT FOR US.
YOU ALWAYS SPEAK WITH A SOFT VOICE, BUT IT'S A STRONG VOICE.
AND WE ARE GOING TO MISS THAT COUNCIL HERE.
WE'RE GOING TO, UH, MISS YOU AS A PERSON, BUT MORE WE'RE GONNA MISS YOU AS A COUNCIL.
AND WHAT I'D LIKE TO SAY IN CLOSING IS THAT WE WISH YOU WELL, YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, AND I KNOW YOU WILL SPEND A LOT MORE TIME WITH THE GRAND BABY, UH, AND WHICH IS, UH, A BLESSING IN AND OF ITSELF.
BUT, UH, YOU DID SAY YOU WERE JUST A PHONE CALL AWAY, AND THAT WE COULD CALL YOU AT ANY TIME FOR COUNSEL AND ADVICE.
AND I WANT TO SAY, NOT JUST ON BEHALF OF ME AND THE COUNCIL, BUT MY WIFE, WHO YOU WORK WITH ALSO, UH, THAT, UH, WE'RE GONNA MISS YOU ON THIS COUNCIL, BUT WE'RE GONNA BE IN TOUCH AND THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE FRIENDS THAT WE'VE GROWN UP TO BE.
IF HE CAN CALL YOU INGRID, I CAN CALL YOU INGRID MARIA.
AND THAT WOULD BE, THAT WOULD BE WHAT I'VE ALWAYS CALLED YOU, KNOWN YOU AT EVERY LEVEL, BEEN YOUR PASTOR, UH, BEEN, UM, AN INDIVIDUAL WHO'S USED THE SERVICES OF YOUR HUSBAND, STILL CARRIES THE INSURANCE ON THE HOUSE TILL THIS DAY.
UH, BUT WHAT I CAN SAY ON TODAY IS THAT YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN THE CONSUMMATE PROFESSIONAL.
UM, THAT, UH, WHAT YOU HAVE BROUGHT TO THIS BOARD IS INVALUABLE.
UH, YOUR EXPERTISE, UM, THE WAY THAT YOU CARRY YOURSELF AND THE WAY THAT YOU WOULD GIVE, UM, YOUR OPINIONS IN MEETINGS, UH, IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE VALUED AND THAT WILL BE MISSED.
UH, I WILL BE CALLING, OF COURSE, UH, ON SO MANY, UH, VARIOUS ISSUES FOR YOUR EXPERTISE, ESPECIALLY IN THE AREA OF, UH, HEALTHCARE BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU'VE DONE.
UH, AND I WISH YOU AND BOBBY, UH, AND YOUR FAMILY THE GREATEST OF HAPPINESS IN THE YEARS THAT HAVE COME.
COUNCILOR HOLMES, I WANT TO THANK YOU IMMENSELY FOR YOUR INSIGHT, YOUR FORESIGHT, AND WHAT YOU BROUGHT TO THE TABLE IN A PROVEN POLICY, AS IS, AS WAS BEING PRESENTED BY THE CITY MANAGER AND HIS TEAM.
AND FOR WORKING WITH SENIOR MEMBERS OF STAFF TO ENSURE THE CONTINUED ADVANCEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
IT MAKES THE LIFE OF STAFF AND, AND, AND OF MANAGEMENT MUCH EASIER IN IMPLEMENTING DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS, YOU KNOW, FOR THE CITY OF PORT FIVE.
AND SO, I'M, I'M VERY MUCH THANKFUL TO YOU FOR THAT, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH YOU EVEN AS A CITIZEN.
UM, I WANTED TO ALSO THANK YOU, UH, AND, UH, WE APPRECIATE, UH, THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR THE CITY.
UH, AS YOU STATED, UH, YOU GREW UP HERE AND HAD THE ABILITY TO SERVE IN YOUR COMMUNITY, AND, UH, I THINK THAT'S WHAT PUBLIC SERVICE IS ALL ABOUT.
AND, UH, WE JUST REALLY THANK ON BEHALF OF A LOT OF THE STAFF MEMBERS.
LIKE THE SAID, WE THANK YOU FOR THE HARD WORK THAT YOU'VE PUT IN AND, UM, ALSO, UH, YOU KNOW, WISHING GOD'S BLESSINGS ON YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AS YOU ENTER THIS NEXT PHASE.
MAYOR PRO TEM, IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE WORKING
[00:25:01]
WITH YOU AND KNOWING YOU AND GETTING TO KNOW YOUR ASPIRATIONS AND YOUR GOALS FOR THIS CITY.I'VE SEEN YOU WORK VERY HARD AND I APPRECIATE THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE, I AND MY STAFF, THE SUPPORT THAT YOU HAVE.
AND WE WILL CARRY THAT WITH US AS YOU GO TO YOUR NEXT JOURNEY.
AND WOULD ANYONE IN THE GALLERY CARE TO SPEAK? OKAY.
AND AGAIN, UH, MAYOR PROTEL, WE THANK YOU.
GOD BLESS YOU, AND WE'LL SEE YOU SOON.
OKAY, NOW WE ARE PREPARED NOW FOR THE SWEARING IN CITY SECRETARY, AND YOU WILL BE IN CHARGE OF ALL OF THAT.
YOU GONNA DO IT FROM DOWN? FROM DOWN? OKAY.
AFTER YOU SWEAR, YOU STILL HERE LEGALLY
UH, I WAS JUST GONNA GO FROM ONE ALL THE WAY DOWN.
THE PLEASURE OF THE COUNCIL, UH, FOR DISTRICT ONE, COULD WE HAVE MS. TIFFANY HAMILTON, PLEASE? TWO, TWO.
SORRY, I JUST SAW THAT DRESS AND WAS LIKE, I COULDN'T GET THAT LIGHT.
WE'RE GONNA DO THE, UH, STATEMENT AND THE OATH.
LET'S GO IN ORDER OF THE DISTRICT'S, PLEASE.
I KNOW WHAT THE REQUEST WAS, BUT I WANT TO KEEP IT IN ORDER OF THE DISTRICTS, IF YOU DON'T MIND.
UH, UH, LEWIS, YOU GOING TO BE FIRST.
YOU SIGN IT AFTER YOU SIT DOWN.
WE'RE GONNA DO THE STATEMENT FIRST, OKAY.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM WE SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT I HAVE NOT DIRECTLY.
I HAVE NOT DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY PAID OR INDIRECTLY PAID.
OFFERED, OFFERED, PROMISED TO PAY, PROMISED TO PAY, CONTRIBUTED, CONTRIBUTED OR PROMISED TO CONTRIBUTE OR PROMISED TO CONTRIBUTE ANY MONEY OR THING OF VALUE? ANY MONEY OF ANY VALUE, OR PROMISED ANY PUBLIC OFFICE OR PROMISED ANY PUBLIC OFFICE OR EMPLOYMENT OR EMPLOYMENT FOR THE GIVING OR WITHHOLDING OF A VOTE FOR THE GIVING OR WITHHOLDING OF A VOTE AT THE ELECTION? AT THE ELECTION AT WHICH I WAS ELECTED, AT WHICH I WAS ELECTED, OR AS A REWARD TO SECURE OR AS A REWARD TO SECURE MY APPOINTMENT OR CONFIRMATION MY APPOINTMENT OR CONFIRMATION, WHICHEVER THE CASE MAY BE, WHICHEVER THE CASE MAY BE.
OKAY, WE'RE GONNA DO THE OATH NOW.
REPEAT IN THE NAME AND BY THE AUTHORITY IN THE NAME AND BY AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE.
THAT I WILL FAITH FAITHFULLY, EXECUTE THE DUTIES, THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF THE STATE, THE OFFICE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.
AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, WILL THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, PRESERVE, PRESERVE, PROTECT, PROTECT, AND DEFEND AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS, THE CONSTITUTION AND LAW OF THE UNITED STATES.
SIGN THAT FOR ME AT SOME POINT TODAY.
[00:30:01]
YOU GOT TWO OF THEM? WHAT? TWO.NOW YOU HAVE SOME REMARKS YOU WANNA MAKE.
UH, SIR COUNCILMAN, YOU'RE COUNCILMAN NOW, AND THEN YOU CAN COME TO YOUR SEAT.
SO YOU CAN MAKE HIM NAIL UP FROM THE SEAT UP HERE.
AND THEN HE'S GONNA MAKE A REMARKS AND, AND THEN WE'LL DO GO TO THE NEXT ONE.
THAT'S A LOUISIANA STYLE FUNERAL.
UH, I'M ON THE, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO, TO THANK FOR MALE PRO, UH, THE HOMES OF SERVICE THAT SHE PROVIDED FOR THE COMMUNITY, AND WISH YOU ALL WILL IN ALL, ALL YOUR ENDEAVORS.
I WANT YOU TO, UH, I'M GONNA STAY IN CONTACT WITH YOU.
I KNOW YOU GOT SOME PROJECTS THAT YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON, AND WE ARE GOING TO COMPLETE 'EM.
AND THAT'S, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.
SO DON'T I, I'LL BE CALLING YOU.
UM, THE FIRST THING I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS TO THANK THE VOTERS.
THANK, THANK THE VOTERS, MY PASTORS.
ARE YOU HERE? WOULD Y'ALL STAND, PLEASE? THOSE ARE MY CHURCH MEMBERS.
I WANNA REMIND YOU, THAT IS MY WIFE.
THAT IS MY WIFE AND MY COUSIN DOLORES AND HER HUSBAND BACK THERE.
SO GLAD THAT YOU ALL ATTENDED.
THE VOTERS THAT I WANT TO THANK IS THE INFORMED VOTER.
YOU GOT THE INFORMED VOTER, THE UNINFORMED VOTER, AND A MISINFORMED VOTER.
THE INFORMED VOTER IS ALWAYS, WHEN THEY LEAVE HOME TO GO VOTE, YOU CANNOT HAND THAT PERSON A CARD AND CHANGE THEIR MIND.
THEY ARE INFORMED WHEN THEY LEAVE THE HOUSE, THEY KNOW WHO THEY'RE GOING TO VOTE FOR.
FOUR, Y'ALL RECALL AN UNINFORMED VOTERS AND THE MISINFORMED VOTERS REMOVED MY SEAT FROM THE COUNCIL.
THEY REMOVED DISTRICT FIVE AND DISTRICT SIX.
AND THE PERSON, THE COUNCILMAN THAT INITIATED THAT FAILED TO, TO CONTINUE, HE THOUGHT THAT HE WAS GONNA BE MOVED TO DISTRICT THREE.
HE WAS ASSURED THAT HE WAS GONNA BE ELECTED IN DISTRICT THREE.
WE BOTH WAS LEAVING THE COUNCIL.
I ASKED HIM, I SAID, COUNCILMAN SWEE, ARE YOU, HAVE YOU EVER READ THE BOOK OF ESTHER? HE SAID, NO.
I SAID, HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF THE BOOK OF ESTHER? HE SAID, NO.
I SAID, I'M GONNA GIVE YOU THE SHORT VERSION HAMAN BILL, THE GALLOWS FOR MARAI.
AND I SAID, GUESS WHO GOT HUNG ON THAT GALLOWS?
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HAMAN GOT HUNG ON THE GALLOWS THAT HE BUILT.AND I TURNED TO HIM THE LAST DAY ON THE COUNCIL.
I SAY, YOU GOT HUNG ON THE GALAS THAT YOU BUILT TO HANG ME ON.
YOU'LL NOW HAVE TO LEAVE THE COUNCIL.
YOU THOUGHT YOU WAS GOING TO STAY, BUT THE GOD HAS A GREATER PLAN.
MY DAUGHTER, A KILLER, MY WIFE.
WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS? WHY YOU WANT TO CONTINUE TO DO THIS? I GAVE HIM A SHORT ANSWER, BUT THE ANSWER THAT I SHOULD HAVE GIVEN THEM, WHY AM I HERE? I'M NOT, I'M NOT, I'M NOT HERE.
I'M HERE TO SERVE, TO BALANCE THE CITY GOVERNMENT IN FAVOR OF THE CITIZEN.
I'M NOT HERE TO RELOAD THE CITY COUNCIL.
I AM NOT HERE TO REBRAND THE CITY.
I'M HERE FOR TWO REASONS TO SERVE GOD AND SERVE MY COMMUNITY CITY ATTORNEY.
I HAVE THREE REQUESTS FROM YOU, RICK, REQUEST CIVIL SERVICE.
I WANT IT IN WRITING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CIVIL SERVICE.
MY SECOND ONE COLLECTED BARGAINING, HOW IT WAS IMPLEMENTED.
OKAY? THE THIRDLY, ONE OF COLLECTIVE BARGAIN IS TANTAMOUNT TO ONE OR THE OTHER.
WHAT I WANT IS THE MEMBERS OF THE FARMERS UNION TO STOP ALLOWING THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE TO SELL THEM OUT.
THEY'LL, THEY'LL MAKING DECISIONS FOR THEM THAT THEY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF.
AND THE CITY, CITY MANAGER, I'VE ALREADY REQUESTED HOW MANY FIREMEN LIVE IN THE CITY.
WHAT THEY'RE TELLING ME, THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE IS THE ONES MAKING THESE DECISIONS.
BUT THAT DOESN'T, THAT DOESN'T STOP THEM FROM BEING IN CONTROL.
THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE GOT THEIR POWER FROM THE MEMBERSHIP.
SO THEY NEED TO REIGN IN THAT COMMITTEE.
AND I'M GOING TO, I I NEVER ASKED ANY QUESTIONS WITHOUT HAVING THE ANSWERS.
I KNOW HOW THEY GOT THE CIVIL SERVICE.
I KNOW HOW THEY GOT COLLECTIVE BARGAIN.
I SIGNED THE PETITION FOR THEM TO GET IT.
I CAMPAIGNED FOR THEM TO GET IT.
CIVIL SERVICE IS NOT A RIGHT CIVIL SERVICE.
COLLECTIVE BARGAIN IS NOT A RIGHT.
THESE ARE PRIVILEGES THAT'S BEEN EXTENDED TO THEM BY THE VOTERS.
NOW THAT ABOUT IS ALL THAT I HAVE TO SAY AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
AND I'LL REQUEST, UH, THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING, HAVE THAT WRITTEN OPINION FOR ME.
UM, CITY SECRETARY, MS. HAMILTON.
OKAY, WE'RE GONNA DO THE STATEMENT FIRST, IF YOU'LL RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND, PLEASE.
I, TIFFANY HAMILTON, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT I HAVE NOT DIRECTLY, THAT I HAVE NOT DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY PAID OR INDIRECTLY PAID, OFFERED, OFFERED, PROMISED TO PAY, PROMISED TO PAY, CONTRIBUTED, CONTRIBUTED OR PROMISED TO CONTRIBUTE ANY MONEY OR THING OF VALUE OR PROMISED TO CONTRIBUTE ANY MONEY OR ANYTHING OF VALUE, OR PROMISED ANY PUBLIC OFFICE OR PROMISED ANY PUBLIC OFFICE OR EMPLOYMENT OR EMPLOYMENT FOR THE GIVING OR WITHHOLDING OF A VOTE FOR THE GIVING OR WITHHOLDING OF A VOTE AT THE ELECTION AT WHICH I WAS ELECTED AT THE ELECTION IN WHICH I WAS ELECTED, OR AS A REWARD TO SECURE MY APPOINTMENT OR AS A REWARD TO SECURE MY APPOINTMENT.
OR CONFIRMATION, WHICHEVER THE CASE MAY BE, WHICHEVER THE CASE MAY BE.
THIS IS THE OATH IN THE NAME AND BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF TEXAS IN THE NAME AND BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, I, TIFFANY HAMILTON.
I, TIFFANY HAMILTON, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE, OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, OF THE OFFICE, OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND WILL TO THE
[00:40:01]
BEST OF MY ABILITY, PRESERVE AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, PRESERVE, PROTECT, PROTECT AND DEFEND AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS, THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.OF THE UNITED STATES, AND OF THIS STATE.
SO HELP ME GOD, YOU CAN DO THIS NOW.
MAY I APPROACH HIM? YOU WOULD CARE TO MAKE REMARKS? YES.
THAT I TOLD MR. COUNCILMAN LEWIS.
I'M GONNA TAKE ALL OF ONE MINUTE.
FIRST, THANK GOD THAT I'VE HAD THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO SERVE.
AND I THANK THE CITIZENS OF DISTRICT TWO FOR BELIEVING IN ME ENOUGH TO REELECT ME FOR CITY COUNCIL.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING YOU AS YOUR MAYOR.
I AM INTERESTED IN SERVING THE CITIZENS WITH HONOR, RESPECT, INTEGRITY, OPEN COMMUNICATION.
AND ALTHOUGH WE MAY NOT ALWAYS AGREE ON HOW THINGS MAY BE MANAGED, I WANT TO HAVE OPEN CONVERSATION SO THAT WE CAN DO THIS AS A TEAM.
TOO OFTEN I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE MAKING DECISIONS INDEPENDENTLY AND SEPARATE OF EACH OTHER AND NOT AS A FAMILY.
SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE OFFERING THAT OPPORTUNITY TO WORK TOGETHER AS A FAMILY.
UM, I WANNA LEAVE LEGACY BEYOND ME FOR THE GENERATIONS TO COME.
AND I WANT TO WORK WITH THIS TEAM TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO HUMBLE MYSELF ENOUGH TO WORK WITH THE TEAM THAT THE CITIZENS HAVE ELECTED TO DO SO WITH.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO DOING THAT AGAIN WITH HONOR AND INTEGRITY AND SOME FUN
A LOT OF TIMES THIS IS SO TIGHT AND INTENSE UP HERE.
BUT AGAIN, I THINK IF WE LEARN HOW TO WORK TOGETHER AS A FAMILY, LEARN HOW TO COM EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER, WE CAN HAVE A MUCH SMOOTHER, UH, PROCESS IN HOW WE RELATE TO EACH OTHER AND HOW WE RELATE TO THE COMMUNITY.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AND LET'S GET AFTER IT.
MAY I APPROACH HIM? I JUST HAVE ONE MORE REQUEST THAT I OVERLOOK CITY MANAGER.
I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO GET WITH LAMAR UNIVERSITY AND GET EVERYBODY PUT ON A RECERTIFICATION PROGRAM ON PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES.
UH, CITY SECRETARY, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR TRANSITION.
OKAY, WE'RE GONNA START WITH THE STATEMENT.
I THOMAS KEN LAW II, I THOMAS KEN LAW.
THE THIRD DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT I HAVE NOT DIRECTLY, THAT I HAVE NOT DIRECTLY ARE INDIRECTLY PAID, ARE INDIRECTLY PAID, OFFERED, OFFERED, PROMISED TO PAY, PROMISE TO PAY, CONTRIBUTED, CONTRIBUTED OR PROMISED TO CONTRIBUTE OR PROMISED TO CONTRIBUTE ANY MONEY OR THING OF VALUE OR ANY MONEY A THING OF VALUE OR PROMISED ANY PUBLIC OFFICE OR EMPLOYMENT, OR PROMISED ANY PUBLIC OFFICE OR EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT FOR THE GIVING OR WITHHOLDING OF A VOTE, OR WITH THE GIVING OF A WITHHOLDING OF A VOTE AT THE ELECTION AT WHICH I WAS ELECTED AT THE ELECTION IN WHICH I WAS ELECTED OR AS A REWARD TO SECURE MY APPOINTMENT OR AS A REWARD TO SECURE MY APPOINTMENT.
OR CONFIRMATION, WHICHEVER THE CASE MAY BE, WHICHEVER THE CASE MAY BE.
THIS IS YOUR OATH IN THE NAME AND BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF TEXAS IN THE NAME OR BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.
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III I THOMAS KEN LAW III.DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR, OR AFFIRMED THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY AND EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE, OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, OF THE OFFICE, OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, PRESERVE AND TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY TO PRESERVE, PROTECT, PROTECT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS, AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.
OH, NO, I DIDN'T GET IT BACK TO YOU.
CITY SECRETARY, WHO COMES? OH, EXCUSE ME.
ONE, UH, YOU GOT A MINUTE AND A HALF.
THE MAYOR JUST, UH, NOTIFIED ME.
I HAVE A MINUTE AND A HALF TO GET MY SPEECH IN, BUT, UH, ON A SERIOUS TIP, I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR IN THIS GREAT CITY FOR ALLOWING ME TO SERVE ANOTHER FOUR YEARS AS AN AT LARGE POSITION.
UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GET INTO POLITICS, THIS IS A HARD THING.
SOMETIMES YOU CAN AGREE TO DISAGREE WITH INDIVIDUALS WHEREVER YOU AT.
UM, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE HAS A SITUATION THAT YOU WANT TO HEAR AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN MAKE IT BETTER.
BUT, YOU KNOW, UH, WHEN YOU HAVE A CORE INDIVIDUALS IN YOUR, IN YOUR CORNER, UH, PORT ARTHUR IS A DIAMOND IN A ROUGH, AND WE ALL KNOW THAT SURROUNDING AREAS KNOW THAT I COULD HAVE RETIRED ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES.
I COULD HAVE RETIRED ANYWHERE, MY WIFE IS HERE.
BUT YOU KNOW, THE QUESTION, I'M ALWAYS ASKED, WHY DID YOU COME BACK HOME? BECAUSE I WANTED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
YOU HAVE SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE THAT ARE FROM PORT ARTHUR THAT GO ELSEWHERE.
BUT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME OF THE, THESE COMMUNITY LEADERS TO GET INVOLVED AND HELP FIND SOLUTIONS.
DON'T ALWAYS COME WITH A PROBLEM.
COME WITH THE SOLUTIONS SOMETIMES.
SO, YOU KNOW, UH, I'M THANKFUL FOR THIS, THE, THIS AT LARGE POSITION.
I KNOW BEING PART OF THIS COHORT AND WITH THE MANAGEMENT TEAM THAT WE HAVE, WE HAVE OUR OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE MAKING, UH, STRIDES.
BUT, YOU KNOW, BEFORE I END TODAY, I, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK A COUPLE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE, UH, LOCALLY.
LAPAS HARRISON, UH, UNCLE PAUL, RICHARD, PAT PLUMER.
AND YOU GUYS KNOW AT THE END OF THE DAY WHAT IT, WHAT IT, WHAT, WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
MY BROTHER'S HERE, MICHAEL, KEN LAW.
AND LAST, BUT NOT LEAST, MY WIFE, MY CAMPAIGN MANAGER, MY DESIGNER, MY TREASURE.
SHE, YOU KNOW, SHE TELLS ME ABOUT MY TIE, IF IT'S THE RIGHT COLOR OF THE SUIT THAT I'M WEARING.
SHE'S MY BIGGEST, BIGGEST CHEERLEADER.
AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU OPENLY WITH THAT.
YOU'RE MY BIGGEST CHEERLEADER, AND I WANNA SAY THANK YOU AND TO ALL THE PEOPLE OF GREAT CITY, OF PORT ARTHUR.
LET'S GO AND CONTINUE WORKING.
JUDGE, I SEE YOU JUDGE GUILLORY, THANK YOU.
BUT TO THE PEOPLE, LET'S CONTINUE PROGRESSING, UH, WITH THIS CITY, MAKING THIS CITY GREAT AGAIN AND MAKING SURE PORT ARTHUR IS BACKED ON THE MAP.
OKAY, WE'LL DO THIS STATEMENT FIRST IF WE CAN.
I, DONALD FRANK SING, DONALD RAY, FRANK, SENIOR, I, DONALD RAY, FRANK, SENIOR.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM DO SOLEMNLY AFFIRM THAT I HAVE NOT DIRECTLY, THAT I HAVE NOT DIRECTLY
[00:50:01]
OR INDIRECTLY PAID OR INDIRECTLY PAID, OFFERED, OFFERED, PROMISED TO PAY, PROMISED TO PAY, CONTRIBUTED, CONTRIBUTED OR PROMISED TO CONTRIBUTE OR PROMISED TO CONTRIBUTE ANY MONEY OR THING OF VALUE, ANY MONEY OR THING OF VALUE, OR PROMISED ANY PUBLIC OFFICE OR PUB OR PROMISED ANY PUBLIC OFFICE OR EMPLOYMENT OR EMPLOYMENT FOR THE GIVING OR WITHHOLDING OF A VOTE FOR THE GIVING OR WITHHOLDING OF A VERDICT AT THE ELECTION AT WHICH I WAS ELECTED AT THE ELECTION OF WHICH I WAS ELECTED OR AS A REWARD TO SECURE MY APPOINTMENT OR AS A REWARD TO SECURE MY APPOINTMENT.OR CONFIRMATION, WHICHEVER THE CASE MAY BE, WHICHEVER THE CASE MAY BE.
BRETT, THIS IS YOUR OATH IN THE NAME AND BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF TEXAS IN THE NAME AND BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, I, DONALD RAY FRANK SR.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM, DO SOLEMNLY AFFIRM THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE, OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, OF THE OFFICE, OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, PRESERVE AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITIES, PRESERVE, PROTECT, PROTECT, AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS, AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.
I HAVE THE PAPERWORK YOU SIGN NOW.
THANK THEY GAVE THE PREACHER THE LESS TIME.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT HAPPENED.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, UM, I WANT TO GIVE GLORY, HONOR AND PRAISE TO MY GOD FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO SERVE YET AGAIN.
UM, UM, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S HUMBLING, UH, TO SERVE AND TO ASK INDIVIDUALS TO VOTE FOR YOU, UH, BECAUSE, UM, YOU WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND THE PEOPLE ALLOW YOU TO SERVE THEM.
UM, THE ONE WHO I TRIED TO LIVE TOWARDS SAID, IF YOU WANT TO BE GREAT, THAT YOU GOTTA SERVE.
IF YOU REALLY WANT TO BE GREAT, YOU GOTTA SERVE.
AND SO, UH, THAT HAS BEEN, UH, MY MANTRA.
THAT'S WHAT I'VE TRIED TO LIVE BY.
UH, FIRST I WANT TO SAY, UH, AS I'VE SAID, THANK GOD, BUT I WANT TO THANK MY WIFE WHO IS HERE IN, UH, INGA.
I ALWAYS WOULD SAY INGA, UH, INGRID MARIA.
AND SO I WANT TO SAY THANK GOD FOR HER ON TODAY.
UH, I HAVE A PARTNER, I LOVE YOU AND I WANT TO THANK HER.
I WANT TO THANK MY FAMILY WHO ARE HERE TODAY AND WHO, UH, WHO DID SUCH A WONDERFUL JOB OF HELPING, UH, DURING THIS CAMPAIGN.
I WANT TO THANK THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND ALL OF YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE OUR CLOSE WITH THIS GEORGE BERNARD SH BERNARD SHAW SAID THAT PEOPLE SEE THINGS AND THEY ASK WHY NOT? AND THEN HE SAID, I SEE THINGS THAT ARE NOT, AND I ASK WHY NOT? I WANT TO SEE PORT ARTHUR BE WHAT PORT ARTHUR HAS NEVER BEEN BEFORE.
I HAVE, UH, ALONG WITH THIS COUNCIL, WE HAVE THE WONDERFUL AND BLESSED OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO DO SOME THINGS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN DONE BEFORE IN OUR CITY AND ACCOMPLISH SOME THINGS BEFORE SUCH A TIME AS THIS.
YOU, UH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS QUOTED THE BOOK OF ESTHER, AND SHE WAS IN THE PALACE FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS.
[00:55:01]
TIME AS THIS, AND I WANT TO CLOSE BY SAYING THIS, YOU DID NOT SURVIVE COVID FOR NOTHING.AND I BELIEVE THAT THAT REASON IS SO THAT WE CAN BECOME WHAT WE HAVE NEVER BEEN BEFORE.
AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING.
AND I'D LIKE TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN TO EACH OF THE NEW COUNCIL PERSONS AND TO OUR RETURNING COUNCIL PERSONS AND TO THOSE WHO ARE EVEN YET IN THE BATTLE.
UH, AND, UH, WE WILL HAVE, WHEN IT HAS BEEN APPROVED, THE, UH, RUNOFF WILL BE JUNE 24TH AND THE CITY SECRETARY WILL PUT OUT MORE INFORMATION ON THAT AND ABOUT THE EARLY VOTING AND ALSO, UH, AN ATTACHMENT THAT WOULD ACTUALLY BE, UH, VOTING ON SATURDAY.
I BELIEVE IT IS THE, THE 17TH.
AM I CORRECT? CITY SECRETARY? YES, SIR.
AND THERE WILL BE NO VOTING ON MONDAY.
ON MONDAY THE 19TH ON JUNETEENTH.
THERE WILL BE NO VOTING ON JUNETEENTH, BUT THE SATURDAY VOTING WILL TAKE ITS PLACE ON DURING THE EARLY VOTING.
AND YES, SIR JUNETEENTH IS A NATIONAL HOLIDAY FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE NOT AWARE.
FEDERAL HOLIDAY AND YES, MAYOR, WHILE WE'RE MAKING ANNOUNCEMENTS, WE WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT, UH, THE ASSISTANT CITY SECRETARY ADDRESSED ALL OF THE REQUESTS THAT WE HAD WITH THE EARLY VOTING LAST TIME, AND WE, SHE DID ADD TWO DAYS OF 12 HOUR VOTING, THE FRIDAY THE 16TH AND JUNE THE 20TH, THAT LAST TUESDAY OF EARLY VOTING COULD LAST TUESDAY FROM SEVEN TO SEVEN COULD ALL BE 12 HOUR VOTING.
AND WHAT WE'VE GOT TO KEEP IN MIND ON ELECTION DAY ON THE 24TH, YOU MUST VOTE AT YOUR DESIGNATED PRECINCT.
AND THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR OR THE CITY SECRETARY IS DOING TO DISENFRANCHISE VOTERS.
ACCORDING TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, WHEN A MUNICIPAL CLERK IS HANDLING THE ELECTION ON ELECTION DATE, THE VOTING HAS TO OCCUR AT EACH INDIVIDUAL'S HOME PRECINCT.
SO WE ARE ONLY FOLLOWING THE LAW.
AND WE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE SAY AND WE PUT OUT THAT ARE LIKE MR. LEWIS SAID, COUNCILMAN LEWIS MISINFORMATION.
AND SOME OF IT IS JUST DISINFORMATION.
AND IF YOU REALLY NEED TO KNOW, PLEASE CONTACT THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE.
THEY WILL GIVE YOU THE CORRECT INFORMATION.
NOT YOUR FRIEND, NOT YOUR COUSIN.
NOT EVEN THE PERSON THAT'S WORKING THE POLL.
I APOLOGIZE, BUT FOR INTERRUPTING YOU.
BUT WE PROBABLY WANT TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION WHEN THERE'S AN AGENDA ITEM THAT ADDRESSES THAT.
SO RIGHT NOW, I THINK THE ONLY THING LEFT ON THE AGENDA IS THE ADJOURNMENT.
SO WITH, UH, THAT BEING SAID, MAY MAYOR PROTE, MAY I GET A MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT? YES, YOU CAN.
CAN I SAY ONE MORE, ONE OTHER THING THAT I FORGOT TO MENTION EARLIER.
BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS, LITERALLY KNOCKING ON DOORS AND MAKING PHONE CALLS.
EVEN OUR LITTLE BABY, OUR ONE YEAR OLD AT THE POLLS.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE VOLUNTEERS FOR MAKING PHONE CALLS, FIXING FOOD, GRABBING DINNER.
JUST MOVE TO SECOND THAT WE WOULD ADJOURN THIS MEETING.
I BELIEVE THE CITY SECRETARY HAS A RECEPTION OUT IN THE OUTER LOBBY, AND EACH OF YOU ARE INVITED TO STAY AND PARTAKE, UH, THE, UH, COFFEE AND THE OTHER, UH, GOODIES THAT ARE OUT THERE.