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I'M READY TO DO THE SECRETARY.[I. INVOCATION, PLEDGE & ROLL CALL]
OKAY.WE ARE GATHERED HERE IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS HERE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AT 4 44 FORBES STREET, UH, ON THE FOURTH FLOOR OF OUR, UH, SPACE OF CITY HALL TO HAVE THIS SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING TODAY, FEBRUARY 23RD, 2024.
UH, IT IS NOW 2:08 PM AND WE ARE PROCEED WITH THE MEETING NOW.
UH, YOU MAY ATTEND THE MEETING, UH, THROUGH VIDEO, UH, CONFERENCE OR EITHER TELEPHONIC MEETINGS, HOWEVER, YOU MUST 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 OF 8 7 2 5 2 5 3 5 3 7 7 AND THE PASSCODE OF 2 0 7 1 5 4.
AND YOU WILL BE ALLOWED TO, UH, PARTICIPATE AND ATTEND THE MEETING.
ALSO, WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITY ACT AND THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, UH, HERE.
AND WE WILL PROVIDE REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR YOU, HOWEVER THEY MUST BE REQUESTED 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE MEETING.
YOU'LL MAKE THE REQUEST BY CALLING THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE AT 4 0 9 9 8 3 8 1 1 5 AND LET THEM KNOW WHAT YOUR SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS ARE AND THEY WILL DO ALL WITHIN THEIR POWER TO, EXCUSE ME, ASSIST YOU AND PROVIDE THOSE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR YOU.
UH, WHAT WE'LL DO, WE'LL STAND AND DO AN INVOCATION PLEDGE, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE A QUORUM SET BY THE, UH, CITY SECRETARY.
SO LET'S STAND AND I'LL DO AN INVOCATION AND WE CAN GET STARTED AND PROCEED.
FATHER GOD IS IN THE NAME OF JESUS THAT WE APPROACH YOUR THRONE ON THIS AFTERNOON THANKING YOU FOR ALL OF THE BLESSINGS THAT YOU'LL BESTOWED UPON US.
WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD JUST BLESS OUR CITY, DEAR GOD, AND ALLOW US TO CONDUCT THE BUSINESS ACCORDING TO YOUR WILL AND IN YOUR WAY.
ALSO, DEAR GOD, ASK, YOU WOULD BLESS EACH COUNCIL PERSON AND WHATEVER OUR FAMILY'S NEEDS COULD BE, JUST PROVIDE THOSE AS YOU HAVE IN THE PAST.
WE JUST GOING TO SAY THANK YOU FOR IT.
NOW, EVEN IN A WAY, ANTICIPATING YOU ARE DOING JUST WHAT WE PRAY FOR THESE THINGS WE ASK IN THE NAME OF JESUS, FOR HIS SAKE WE PRAY.
AND THANK GOD, LET'S, UH, SAY THE OATH, THE, THE PLEDGE OBITUARY OUR P JESUS TO THE FLAG OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO, FOR WI IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL CITY.
SECRETARY, WOULD YOU BE SO KIND AS TO ESTABLISH A QUORUM FOR US? YES.
MAYOR BARTEE, PRESENT, MAYOR PRO.
TIM HAMILTON, PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
AND AGAIN, WE ARE GATHERED HERE FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE AND REASON AND IT IS FOR US
[II. *CLOSED MEETING (EXECUTIVE SESSION)]
TO GO INTO A CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION AND, UH, TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION 5 5 1 0.101 OF, UH, CHAPTER 5 5 1, THE OPEN MEETING LAWS OF THE GOV, EXCUSE ME, OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, WHICH WAS FORMER, THE ARTICLE 62 52 DASH 17 SECTION TWO SUBSECTION A.UH, PRIOR TO GOING INTO THE CLOSE OR THE EXECUTIVE SESSION, I BEING THE PRESIDING OFFICER OF THE MEETING WAS MAKE THE FOLLOWING, UH, STATEMENTS IN THE CLOSE SESSION.
WE WERE COVER 5 5 1 0.071 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODES TO DISCUSS AND RECEIVE LEGAL ADVICE FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY REGARDING POTENTIAL AND OR PENDING CLAIMS, CONTACT CONTRACTS, LITIGATION, AND OTHER LEGAL MATTERS REGARDING THE AMBULANCE SERVICE COVER.
SECTION 5 5 1 0.071 AGAIN TO DISCUSS AND RECEIVE LEGAL ADVICE OR CONSULTATION FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY REGARDING POTENTIAL AND OR PENDING CLAIMS, CONTRACT LITIGATION AND OTHER LEGAL MATTERS INVOLVING THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
WE'LL ALSO COVER SECTION FIVE BY 1.072 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE.
WE WILL DISCUSS OR DELIBERATE THE PURCHASE EXCHANGE LEASE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY ON PLEASURE ISLAND AND SECTION 5 5 1 0.074
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OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE.WE WILL DISCUSS THE APPOINTMENT AND THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE INTERIM CITY ATTORNEY AND THERE'RE BEING ACTION ON ANY OF THESE ITEMS. WE WILL RETURN AND VOTE IN AN OPEN SESSION ON THE ITEMS THAT WOULD REQUIRE ACTIONS.
UH, AND THAT WAS AN INDIVIDUAL ITEM THAT I THINK WE CAN HANDLE IF NOW ATTORNEY OR RIGHT HERE A RESOLUTION APPOINTMENT.
OH, NO, YOU KNOW, I JUST GOT THE READING.
I JUST SAW THAT AND I WAS THINKING THERE WAS SOMETHING WE COULD DO RIGHT QUICK.
SO WE WILL RETURN AND THERE IS A ITEM THAT WE HAVE ON THE AGENDA THAT ACTUALLY REQUIRES TO ACT AND IT'S LISTED THERE AND, UH, THAT WILL OCCUR ONCE WE GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
SO NOW WE WILL RECESS TO THE, UH, CONFERENCE ROOM AND BEGIN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION AND WE WILL RETURN IN THIS OPEN MEETING THAT'S FOLLOWING THAT SESSION.
UH, CITY SECRETARY, WOULD YOU REESTABLISH PLEASE? MAYOR BARTEE.
COUNCILMAN LEWIS? COUNCIL MEMBER BECKHAM? HERE.
FRANK, YOU HAVE A COURT MEETING.
SO COUNTY, WE ARE RECONVENING I GUESS AT 3 0 4, THIS, UH, SPECIAL MEETING OF THE PORT ARTHUR, PORT ARTHUR CITY COUNCIL AND WE'VE BEEN IN EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR ABOUT, ABOUT AN HOUR MAYBE.
[III.(1) P.R. No. 23637 – A Resolution Appointing An Interim City Attorney For The City Of Port Arthur And Establishing The Terms Of Employment]
AN ITEM OF ACTION THAT THAT REQUIRES ACTION AND IT IS PR NUMBER 23 6 3 7.IT'S A RESOLUTION APPOINTING AN INTERIM CITY ATTORNEY FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND ESTABLISHING THE TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT CITY SECRETARY.
WOULD YOU BE SO KIND AS TO DIVORCE THAT NAME? YOU GOT, SORRY, I BELIEVE THAT'S GONNA BE GIVEN BY DR.
WELL I WAS READING IT AND ASKED FOR THE MOTION, BUT I DOES THE NAME HAVE TO BE IN THE MOTION? Y'ALL GOTTA, NO.
MOTION SECOND TO GET IT ON THE FLOOR.
FLOOR AND THEN YOU'LL MAKE, MAKE A MOTION TO FILL IN THE LETTER.
ALRIGHT, SO MAY I GET A MOTION? COUNCILMAN KEN LAW ALSO MOVED? MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN ETT SECOND.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 23 6 37, WHICH IS A RESOLUTION APPOINTMENT.
AND INTERIM CITY MANAGER, UH, CITY ATTORNEY FOR THE, UH, CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
AND ESTABLISHING THE TERMS OF THE CONTRACT.
NOW WE WOULD HAVE A NAME AND WE WOULD NEED, UH, WELL, ALL IN FAVOR, RIGHT? NO, NO, NO.
YOU NEED TO ADD THE NAMES SO WE HAVE SOME BLANK LINES IN THERE AND YOU'LL, UH, COUNCILMAN KINLAW WILL NOTIFY US THAT INFORMATION.
SEE, I DON'T HAVE THOSE BLACK LINES ON MINE.
I MOVE THAT WE IN THE INSERTION OF THE NAME JAMES BLACK AT THE RANGE OF 74 IN STEP 10.
JUST GO AHEAD, MAKE, GO UP FOR THE GO ON THE RECORD.
AND IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND THAT THE NAME OF ATTORNEY JAMES BLACK, GO AHEAD ATTORNEY.
ATTORNEY JAMES BLACK WOULD BE INSERTED TO BE THE INTERIM CITY ATTORNEY HERE FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, ARE WE READY FOR QUESTION? I JUST HAVE ONE.
I'VE KNOWN HIM FOR A LONG TIME AND I THANK THE COUNCIL AND, UH, I COULDN'T THINK OF A MORE, UH, CONSIDERATE AND GREAT ATTORNEY TO COME AND DO THIS.
AND, UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK THE COUNCIL AND, UH, JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT WELCOME WE THANK YOU, ATTORNEY.
ANY OTHER, UH, DISCUSSION ON THIS? COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE, BOTH THE ADJO? YOU GOTTA VOTE FIRST VOTE, VOTE.
SO WHAT IS AUDIT? THE NEW CITY ATTORNEY? OH, CITY.
INTERIM CITY ATTORNEY IS ATTORNEY, UH, JAMES BLACK, NOW, UH, CITY ATTORNEY WHO WOULD BE RETIRING.
UM, AL I I WANT TO THANK YOU AS MAYOR OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND, UM, AS WE ARE LIVE TREATMENTS.
SO IT WOULD ACTUALLY BE ON RECORD FOR YEARS TO COME TO THANK YOU FOR THE 20 PLUS YEARS OF SERVICE THAT YOU'VE GIVEN TO THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
AND I THINK WHAT ABOUT 17 OR 18 OF THOSE YEARS IS BEEN AS CITY ATTORNEY? UH, IT'S ACTUALLY EXACTLY 14 YEARS TODAY.
I WAS APPOINTED ON THIS DAY IN 2010.
SO I
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BLESSINGS UPON YOU AS YOU EMBARK UPON ANOTHER, UH, PHASE OF YOUR LIFE.IT'S SORT OF LIKE, UH, I LIKE TO SAY WHEN YOU ARE ACTUALLY IN ANOTHER COMMMENT, 'CAUSE YOU'RE COMMENCING ON A NEW BEGINNING OF MAYBE LAWYERING AND JUST BEING A GOOD CITIZEN.
YOU IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, MIND YOU
OKAY? SO NOW, UH, ANYONE ELSE? YOU WILL BE HERE TUESDAY, RIGHT? MM-HMM?
UH, ATTORNEY BLACK, YOU WANT TO COME UP SO THAT THEY CAN GET YOU ON THE CAMERA THERE AND, UH, INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO THE COMMUNITY.
UH, AS YOU SAID, I'M JAMES BLACK.
I'M, UH, PLEASED TO DO THIS FOR YOU.
UH, AS I SAID, UH, THE, I'LL, I'LL DO IT AS LONG AS POSSIBLE FOR YOU AND I WILL NOT BE, UH, UPSET IF YOU FIND SOMEONE QUICKLY.
I CAN, BUT IF YOU CAN'T, YES, I'LL, UH, BE HERE.
AND WE, WE, WE, WE, WE LOVE YOUR, YOUR TRUTHFULNESS ABOUT THAT.
WE LOVE YOUR TRUTHFULNESS ABOUT THAT.
AND WE WILL TRY TO MOVE AS EXPEDITIOUSLY AS POSSIBLE, UH, AND GET AN, A PERMANENT PERSON.
HOWEVER, WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE A GOOD PERSON IN THE INTERIM POSITION, SO, UH, IF THERE'S A BREAKDOWN, WE KNOW WE GOT YOU.
UH, COUNCILMAN ETT, MOVE TO ADJOIN SECOND.
BEEN MOVED IN SECOND THAT WE WOULD ADJOIN THIS MEETING.
SO THIS MEETING IS DULY ADJOINT.
WE WILL RECONVENE, NOT THIS PARTICULAR MEETING, BUT WE WILL RECONVENE AS A COUNCIL ON TUESDAY MORNING.
TUESDAY BEING THE 27TH OF FEBRUARY AT NINE 30 HERE IN COUNCIL OF CHAMBERS.