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EXCUSE ME.[I. INVOCATION, PLEDGE & ROLL CALL]
MORNING.AND WE ARE READY TO BEGIN OUR SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING ON TODAY, JULY 5TH, 2023.
UH, ACTUALLY IT'S POSTED FOR 10:30 AM AND IT'S NOW 10:40 AM AND UH, YOU ARE GATHERED HERE AT 4 44 FOURTH STREET HERE IN THE GREAT CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.
AND YOU ARE ON THE FIFTH FLOOR COUNCIL CHAMBERS HERE IN CITY HALL.
UH, AND THIS MEETING MAY BE ATTENDED THROUGH THE MEDIUMS OF VIDEO CONFERENCE OR, UM, TELEPHONICALLY.
AND YOU MUST FIRST DIAL 8 7 7 8 5 3 5 2 4 7 OR 8 8 8 7 8 0 0 9 9, AND YOU WOULD PUT IN THE MEETING ID OF 8 6 1 0 7 8 2 2 1 1, AND THE PASSCODE OF 6 1 8 3 3 3, AND YOU WILL BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE AND JOINED THIS MEETING.
WE ARE ALSO IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, UM, HERE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
AND IF THERE IS A NEED FOR SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS, THOSE ACCOMMODATIONS WILL BE AFFORDED YOU.
HOWEVER, YOU MUST CALL THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE AT 4 0 9 9 8 3 8 1 1 5 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE MEETING.
MAKE THAT REQUEST KNOWN AND THE CITY SECRETARY OF STAFF WILL DO ALL WITHIN ITS POWERS TO ACCOMMODATE YOU WITH YOUR REQUEST.
AT THIS TIME, WE WILL BEGIN OUR MEETING.
IF YOU HAVE TELEPHONE, OR EXCUSE ME, EXCUSE ME, UH, TELEPHONIC OR ANY TYPE OF, UH, MOBILE DEVICES, WOULD YOU PLEASE SILENCE THOSE AT THIS JUNCTURE AND WE WILL BEGIN OUR MEETING.
WE ARE GOING TO ASK COUNCILMAN MARKS, WOULD YOU BE SO KIND AS TO DO THE INVOCATION FOR US? YOU ALWAYS STAND, PLEASE JAB BOW PLEASE.
FATHER GOD, WE COME TO YOU TODAY THANKING YOU FOR ANOTHER DAY, ALLOWING US TO WALK THIS EARTH IN PEACE AND IN LOVE.
WE'RE ACTUALLY FATHER TO WATCH OVER THIS MEETING AS WE DELIBERATE THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTION.
WE ASK YOUR FATHER TO BE IN THE MIDST OF THOSE WHO WILL SERVE THIS COMMUNITY IN THE ONCOMING THREE YEARS.
WE ASK YOUR FATHER TO BLESS EACH AND EVERY HOUSE THAT'S REPRESENTED HERE, EACH AND EVERY HOME.
THAT AND PERSON THAT WANTED TO BE HERE BUT ARE UNABLE TO TO BE HERE TODAY.
WE ASK YOUR FATHER TO KEEP US IN GRACE AND MERCY.
ALL THESE THINGS WE ASK IN JESUS' NAME.
WOULD YOU PLEASE JOIN US IN UNISON, IN RECITING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, OUR I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INDULGENCE IN OUR OPENING CITY SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE BE SO KIND AS TO ESTABLISH A QUORUM FOR US, PLEASE.
MAYOR BART, PRESENT, MAYOR PROTI HAMILTON, COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
COUNCIL MEMBER KEN LAW COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK, YOU HAVE A QUORUM MAYOR.
[II. ITEMS REQUIRING INDIVIDUAL ACTION (1) P.O. No. 7152 – An Ordinance Canvassing The Returns And Declaring The Results Of The Runoff Election Held On June 24, 2023 For The Purpose Of Electing Councilmembers For Districts 3 And 4, In The City Of Port Arthur, Texas In Accordance With Chapter 271 Of The Texas Election Code]
WE HAVE AN ITEM WHICH IS ROMAN NUMERAL TWO THAT REQUIRES INDIVIDUAL ACTION.UH, IT IS PO NUMBER 71 52, AN ORDINANCE CANVASSING THE RETURNS AND DECLARING THE RESULTS OF THE RUNOFF ELECTION HELD ON JUNE 24TH, 2023 FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELECTING COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR DISTRICTS THREE AND THE FOUR IN THE CITY OF FORT ARTHUR, TEXAS IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER 2 71 OF THE TEXAS ELECTION CODE.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN KEN LAWS? MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN LEWIS? SECOND.
IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PO NUMBER 71 52.
AS READ, WE HAVE COPIES OF THE ACTUAL GENERAL RUNOFF ELECTION AND IF THERE BE
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ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME, THE CHAIR IS READY TO ENTERTAIN THOSE.ALL IN FAVOR A AYE, ANY OPPOSERS AYES HAVE IT.
WE ARE NOW ENDOWED AND IN THE PRESENCE OF NEWLY AND NEWLY ELECTED COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THE CITY OF, FOR ARTHUR IN DISTRICTS THREE AND FOUR.
AND BEFORE WE WOULD ACTUALLY BEGIN THE SWEARING IN PROCESS FOR THOSE TWO INDIVIDUALS, WE ARE GOING TO ASK COUNCILMAN KENNAN MARKS THE PAST COUNCILPERSON FOR DISTRICT FOUR TO HAVE HIS FINAL REMARKS.
TO THE MAYOR COUNCIL, RECORDING IN PROGRESS, ALL THOSE PRESENT TODAY, NEWLY ELECTED OFFICIALS.
I'D LIKE TO START OFF BY SAYING THANK GOD FOR BLESSING ME WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY AS A CITY COUNCILMAN.
I WANT TO THANK ALL MY SUPPORTERS, THE CITY STAFF, THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR WORKING WITH ME DURING THE PAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS.
I'D LIKE TO THANK MY FAMILY AND FIRST OF ALL, THANK MY MOTHER WHO PASSED IN FEBRUARY OF 2019, WHO GAVE ME GOOD COUNSEL AS I PREPARED TO, TO RUN FOR THIS SEAT.
I WANT TO THANK MY BROTHER RALPH OFF WHO PASSED IN MARCH OF 2022.
HE DID ALL OF THE GRUNT WORK FOR MY CAMPAIGN DURING 2020 AND HE WAS NOT HERE TO HELP THIS TIME AROUND AND HE WAS SORELY MISSED.
I WANT TO THANK MY IN-LAWS, JUDITH AND DALLAS SMITH WHO WERE THERE WITH US EVERY STEP OF THE WAY THROUGH THE CAMPAIGNS, THROUGH ALL THAT WENT ON DURING THESE LAST TWO AND A HALF, THREE YEARS.
FINALLY, I WANT TO THANK MY WIFE DIANE, MY AWESOME AND INCREDIBLE WIFE FOR 43 YEARS.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR STANDING BESIDE ME ON THIS JOURNEY AND PUBLIC SERVICE THAT'S LASTED MORE THAN 20 YEARS.
THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE SACRIFICES YOU'VE MADE ON THIS JOURNEY.
I LOVE YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.
IN CLOSING, I MUST, I MUST SAY THAT IT'S BEEN CHALLENGING AND REWARDING SERVING ON THIS COUNCIL.
I SINCERELY BELIEVE THAT I AM A PUBLIC SERVANT, NOT A POLITICIAN.
AND I CARRIED MYSELF THAT WAY.
I ATTEMPTED TO, AND I THINK I SUCCEEDED AT BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH CONSTITUENTS, WITH STAFF, WITH COLLEAGUES.
AND I TREATED EVERYONE THAT I WORK WITH OR ENCOUNTERED WITH RESPECTS IN ALL SEGMENTS OF OUR DISTRICT.
I PRIDED MYSELF ON STANDING UP FOR STAFF WHENEVER WE WERE OUT IN PUBLIC AND THEY WERE BEING DISPARAGED, UH, IN PARTICULAR OUT IN IN IN DISTRICT FOUR.
WE, WE DID SOME GOOD THINGS OUT THERE.
AND WHEN I SAY WE, I'M TALKING ABOUT STAFF.
UH, LASTLY, ON THE DAY OF ELECTION, ONE OF MY MENTORS AND THE EXAMPLES THAT I TRIED TO PATTERN MYSELF AFTER CAME TO VOTE AT ABOUT SIX 30, UH, THAT SATURDAY EVENING.
AND I HOPE SHE DOESN'T MIND ME, UH, MENTIONING HER NAME HERE.
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AVO.SHE'S BEEN A PILLAR IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR I GUESS SHE'S ALMOST 90 YEARS OLD NOW.
BUT MRS. SAVOY ALWAYS CARRIED HERSELF IN PUBLIC IN THE WORK THAT SHE DID.
SHE CARRIED HERSELF AS A SERVANT OF THE PEOPLE.
AND IN MY WORK ON THE SCHOOL BOARD, ON THE BOND COMMITTEES ON THE E D C AND FINALLY HERE ON COUNCIL, I STROVE TO CARRY MYSELF AND TO CONDUCT MYSELF IN THAT MANNER AS A PUBLIC SERVANT.
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANKS TO MRS. SAVOY FOR THE EXAMPLE THAT SHE SET.
AND FINALLY TO COUNCIL, AS I LEAVE AND THE OTHER NEW COUNCIL PEOPLE ARE SWORN IN, I JUST WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU ONE OF MY FAVORITE, UH, BIBLE VERSES COMES FROM PROVERBS THREE, FIVE THROUGH SEVEN AND IT SAYS, TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL DYING HEART AND LEAN NOT UNTO THY OWN UNDERSTANDING.
AND ALWAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM AND HE SHALL DIRECT YOUR PATH.
BE NOT WISE IN OUR OWN EYES, FEAR THE LORD AND DEPART FROM EVIL.
OKAY, COUNCILMAN MARKS, WE WANT TO THANK YOU.
ANY COUNCIL HAVE ANY REMARKS FOR HIM? YEAH, FOR YOUR DEPART.
YOU THINK THERE'S A GIFT THERE FOR YOU COUNCIL? YEAH.
AND MS. DIANE MARKS, WE THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE.
[III. SWEARING IN OF COUNCILMEMBERS]
NOW WE WILL CALL THE CITY SECRETARY WHO WILL CONDUCT THE SWEARING IN OF OUR TWO NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS.WE'LL GO IN THE ORDER OF SEATS AS WE DID PREVIOUSLY.
WE'D LIKE TO WELCOME THE NEWLY ELECTED COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT THREE, MS. DONNING BECKHAM.
HOW ARE YOU? WE'LL DO OUR STATEMENT FIRST.
IF YOU RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND, PLEASE.
I DONNING BECKHAM, I DONNING BECKHAM.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I HAVE NOT DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY PAID? THAT I HAVE NOT DIRECTLY 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 EMPLOYMENT OR PROMISED ANY PUBLIC OFFICE 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 AT WHICH I WAS ELECTED OR AS REWARD OR AS REWARD TO SECURE MY APPOINTMENT OR CONFIRMATION TO SECURE MY APPOINTMENT OR CONFIRMATION, WHICHEVER THE CASE MAY BE, WHICHEVER THE CASE MAY BE.
OKAY, NOW WE'RE GONNA DO 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 DONNE BECKHAM.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE, THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE, THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE, OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.
OF THE STATE OF TEXAS AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, PRESERVE, PRESERVE, PROTECT, PROTECT AND DEFEND AND DEFEND THE
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CONSTITUTION AND LAWS, THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.I'LL GET YOU SIGNED SOME PAPERWORK.
AND NOW WE'D LIKE TO WELCOME THE NEWLY ELECTED COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT FOUR, HAROLD DOUCE.
IF YOU RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND, PLEASE.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT I HAVE NOT DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY PAID? I HAVE NOT DIRECTLY, INDIRECTLY PAID, OFFERED, OFFERED.
PROMISE TO PAY, PROMISED TO PAY, CONTRIBUTED, CONTRIBUTED OR PROMISED TO CONTRIBUTE OR PROMISE TO CONTRIBUTE ANY MONEY OR THING OF VALUE, ANY MONEY OR THING OF VALUE OR PROMISED ANY PUBLIC OFFICE OR EMPLOYMENT, UH, PROMISE ANY PUBLIC OFFICE OR EMPLOYMENT FOR THE GIVING OR WITHHOLDING OF A VOTE FOR THE GIVEN A OR WITHHOLDING UP ABOVE AT THE ELECTION AT WHICH I WAS ELECTED AT THE ELECTION, OR WHICH I WAS ELECTED OR AS REWARD TO SECURE MY APPOINTMENT OR AS REWARD TO SECURE MY APPOINTMENT OR CONFIRMATION OR CONFIRMATION, WHICHEVER THE CASE MAY BE, WHICHEVER THE CASE MAY BE.
OKAY, NOW WE'LL DO THE OATH AND THE NAME AND BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.
IN THE NAME, IN THE NAME AND BY THE AUTHORITY STATE OF TEXAS, I HAROLD DOUCETTE.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE, THAT I'LL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE, THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE AND THE STATE OF TEXAS AND THE STATE OF TEXAS AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, PRESERVE, 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 AND OF THIS.
SO HELP ME GOD, WELCOME BACK
AND AT THIS TIME, BE THERE REMARKS FROM COUNCILMAN BECKHAM.
WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I HAVE TO THANK GOD BECAUSE HE IS THE REASON THAT I'M HERE.
UH, WHEN THIS STARTED BACK IN JANUARY, HE WAS THE FIRST PERSON THAT I TURNED TO AFTER MY HUSBAND
AND SO I KNOW THAT HE HAS A PLAN AND A PURPOSE AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE.
AND I HAVE TO THANK MY HUSBAND BECAUSE HE'S MY, I'M SORRY, HE'S MY BIGGEST SUPPORTER AND CHEERLEADER.
AND HE HAS PRAYED OVER ME FROM THE VERY FIRST DAY EVERY DAY HE'S PRAYED WITH ME AND FOR ME, INCLUDING TODAY BEFORE WE LEFT OUR HOUSE
I COULDN'T HAVE DONE THIS WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT.
AND I HAVE TO THANK MY SUPPORTERS AND THEY ARE MANY AND THERE IS NO WAY THAT I COULD NAME ALL OF THEM BECAUSE I WOULD SURELY LEAVE SOMEONE OUT.
BUT I DO HAVE TO MENTION, UH, IN PARTICULAR ROBERT REED, WHO WAS MY CAMPAIGN MANAGER.
UM, I COULD NOT HAVE DONE THIS WITHOUT HIM.
HE CAME TO ME, HE ASKED ME IF I WOULD CONSIDER DOING THIS.
UM, WE HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS BEFORE I, PRAYERFULLY,
UM, AND SO I COULD NOT HAVE DONE THIS WITHOUT HIM.
HIS SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT AND HIS COUNSEL ALONG THE WAY WAS, UM, I JUST COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT HIM.
AND JODY HOLTON, MY CAMPAIGN TREASURER, UH, SUPPORTED ME, LISTENED TO ME COMPLAIN
AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU DID FOR ME AS TREASURER AND AS MY FRIEND.
UH, THERE WERE ABOUT A HUNDRED PEOPLE THAT WORKED ON MY CAMPAIGN AND THEY WERE FROM ALL ACROSS SOUTHEAST TEXAS.
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THEY WEREN'T JUST DISTRICT THREE, THEY WEREN'T JUST PORT ARTHUR.UH, THEY WERE PORT NECHES, NEDERLAND, BEAUMONT BRIDGE CITY.
I HAD PEOPLE ALL OVER SOUTHEAST TEXAS HELPING ME.
AND THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES ABOUT SOUTHEAST TEXAS BECAUSE OTHER CITIES ARE CONCERNED ABOUT PORT ARTHUR JUST LIKE WE ARE.
AND I THINK THAT REALLY SPEAKS A LOT ABOUT OUR LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES WHEN THEY WILL JUMP IN AND SEE TO IT THAT WERE CHANGES NEEDED IN ANOTHER CITY THAT THEY WILL HELP.
SO I APPRECIATE ALL OF THOSE SUPPORTERS AND THERE'S NO WAY THAT I COULD NAME THEM ALL BY NAME, BUT SOME OF THEM ARE SITTING HERE TODAY
AND I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU DID FROM PUTTING LABELS ON POSTCARDS AND STAMPS AND WALKING YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND MAKING, UH, TEXT MESSAGES AND EMAILS.
I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE IT SO MUCH, SO VERY MUCH.
AND I'D LIKE TO CLOSE JUST BY SAYING ONE THING ABOUT THE NEGATIVE THINGS THAT WERE SAID ABOUT ME DURING THE CAMPAIGN.
ANYONE THAT KNOWS ME KNOWS THAT I'M NOT THOSE THINGS AND I'M NOT GONNA REPEAT THE THINGS THAT WERE SAID.
UH, THE PEOPLE THAT SAID 'EM ARE NOT HERE SURPRISINGLY.
UH, BUT ANYBODY THAT KNOWS ME WILL TELL YOU THAT I'M A WOMAN OF FAITH AND INTEGRITY.
THAT I AM A CONSUMMATE PROFESSIONAL IN EVERYTHING THAT I DO.
NOT JUST IN MY CAREER, BUT IN EVERYTHING THAT I DO.
AND I HOLD MYSELF AND OTHERS TO VERY HIGH MORAL AND ETHICAL STANDARDS.
AND THAT IS WHAT I BRING TO COUNSEL AND THAT'S HOW I WILL CONDUCT MYSELF ON COUNCIL.
AND JUST AS COUNCILMAN MARK SAID, I DON'T CONSIDER MYSELF TO BE A POLITICIAN EITHER.
I CONSIDER MYSELF TO BE A PUBLIC SERVANT AND I HOPE TO CONDUCT MYSELF THAT WAY IN THE BUSINESS THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO DO.
WELL, I GUESS JUST A REPEAT WHAT IT IS, THIRD EPISODE.
FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO THANK MY WIFE, MY SON.
I KNOW THEY ALWAYS WILLING TO GIVE UP THEIR DAD OR THEIR HUSBAND TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
UH, A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL COMPLAIN ABOUT ALWAYS DOING FOR OTHERS.
HOWEVER, THEY ALWAYS STAND BY THE DECISIONS I MAKE.
THEY UNDERSTAND THAT I TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY SERVING THE CITY AND THE CITIZENS OF THIS CITY.
I REALLY CARE ABOUT THE CITIZEN.
I'M NOT A POLITICIAN, A PUBLIC SERVANT.
YOU ALWAYS KNOW IF THEY RECOGNIZE THAT THEY ARE PUBLIC SERVANTS, THEY ARE THE PEOPLE THAT KNOW THEY ARE THE LOWEST PERSON ON THE TOTEM POLE.
WE'RE NOT SPECIAL, WE'RE NOT PRIVILEGED.
AND ABOVE ALL, WE ALWAYS ASK, WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU? AS MY FORMER COUNCILMAN SCOTT ALWAYS SAYS, THIS SEAT I'M SITTING IN IS NOT MY SEAT.
I SAT IN IT BECAUSE THE CITIZENS ELECTED ME TO SIT IN THEIR SEAT AND BE THEIR VOICE, REPRESENT THEM, SAY WHAT THEY WANT ME TO SAY, DO WHAT THEY EXPECT ME TO DO.
IF YOU WANNA KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT SOMETHING, YOU HAVE TO WAIT TILL I GET OUTSIDE THE CHAMBER DOORS.
CAUSE WHEN I WALK THROUGH THAT DOOR, HOW DOUCETTE FEEL IS LEFT OUT THERE, WHAT DOUCETTE THINK IS LEFT OUT THERE.
SO IT GET TO THE PART THAT EVERYBODY SAYS ABOUT ME.
IT'S WRITTEN, IT'S WRITTEN HOW THIS CITY SHOULD BE RAN.
IT'S WRITTEN HOW WE SHOULD TAKE CARE OF CITIZENS.
IT WAS WRITTEN WITH CAREFUL THOUGHT.
AND WHAT WE HAVE TO DO AS PUBLIC SERVANTS IN CERTAIN IN THESE STATES IS ENSURE THAT WE CHANGE IT WHEN IT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED.
BUT WHEN IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE CHANGED, WE NEED TO ADHERE TO IT.
WE DON'T NEED NO BRIGHT IDEAS.
EVERYBODY HAS A RESPONSIBILITY AND A DUTY.
AND ONCE AGAIN, I WILL HOLD EVERYBODY ACCOUNTABLE, STARTING WITH ME.
I'M GONNA DO WHAT'S RIGHT AND I'M GONNA, UH, MYSELF IN THE MANNER IN WHICH THE CITIZENS ELECTED ME TODAY.
WE'RE GONNA MOVE ALL OF A SUDDEN UP HERE.
HEARD WHAT YOU SAID DURING THIS CAMPAIGN, YOUR INFRASTRUCTURE, YOUR BEAUTIFICATION.
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I'M NOT UP HERE TO HEAR NO EXCUSES.WE'RE GONNA MAKE THESE THINGS HAPPEN AND THIS CITY IS GOING TO MOVE.
I DON'T MAKE PROMISES I CAN'T KEEP.
BUT I PROMISE YOU THIS COUNCIL, WE'RE GONNA MOVE THIS CITY AND WE GONNA LEAVE BY EXAMPLE AND WE'RE GONNA POLICE OURSELVES.
AND IF WE CAN'T POLICE OURSELVES, THEN WHEN SOMEBODY COME AND POLICE BECAUSE WE WILL GIVE YOU WHAT YOU DESERVE AND WHAT YOU ELECTED US TO DO.
AND WITH THAT, I'M GLAD TO BE ON BOARD.
AND AGAIN, WELCOME TO THIS AUGUST BODY OF, UH, SERVANTS, IF YOU WILL, FOR THE CITIZENS IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
AGAIN, WE THANK EACH OF YOU CITIZENS FOR TAKING TIME IN YOUR BUSY DAYS TODAY TO, UH, BE HERE AND WITNESS THIS HISTORIC, UH, MOMENT.
UM, BE THERE ANY REMARKS WE WOULD BE READY NOW.
EXCUSE ME, TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT.
THERE ARE NOT ANY OTHER ITEMS THAT WOULD COME BEFORE THIS BODY AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME.
SO WHO, MAYOR, COUNCILMAN, UH, BECKHAM.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD, UH, ADJOURN THIS MEETING.
UH, ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? I DON'T THINK THAT THERE ARE WE ALL IN FAVOR IN THE OPPOSERS? AYE.
I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A RECEPTION OUT IN THE FOYER AND YOU ALL ARE WELCOME TO PARTAKE AND PARTICIPATE IN THAT.