LG Terminates Negotiations With City Manager Finalist
In Other Business
The La Grange City Council terminated contract negotiations with David Harris, the man they were hoping to hire as the new La Grange City Manager.
Council made the decision following a brief closed-session meeting Monday night, Jan. 9.
The City and Harris reportedly came to an impasse over compensation. The Council named Harris as the sole finalist for the job on Dec. 5 after interviewing him and three other finalists. Harris was previously city administrator for Balcones Heights, an enclave of San Antonio.
Interim City Manager Frank Menefee said the Council will restart the search by reviewing the three other finalists they interviewed back in November. Listed below are those three finalists: • Fred Franklin Bell of Los Fresnos, the assistant city manager of San Benito since 2018. He also serves as the Emergency Management Coordinator of San Benito, which is located in the Rio Grande Valley near Harlingen. Prior to that, Bell served 23 years in law enforcement, including a stint as Police Chief for the City of Arcola, a suburb of Houston.
• Kevin Carruth of Rockport, a field consultant for Strategic Partnerships Inc., a firm focused on business development and consulting for state and local governments. Prior to that he was the city manager of Rockport from 2012 to 2022, leading the town through 10 de- clared disasters including Hurricane Harvey. He has also held the city manager posts at Paris, Brownwood, Hillsboro and Daingerfield.
• Rebecca Gleason of Bastrop, former assistant city manager for community engagement in Bastrop. She was previously the Bastrop Main Street Manager from 2019-2020. Prior to that, Gleason was a professor and dean of academics at Hallmark University in San Antonio. Gleason also has a background in law. She holds a J.D. from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio and was a managing partner at the law offices of Stanford and Wadler in San Antonio.
Back in October, the Council set the salary range for the new City Manager at between $130,000 to $175,000 annually, which includes base salary plus benefits. Former City Manager Shawn Raborn retired at the end of September.
In other business at Monday’s meeting, Council accepted the resignation of Carol Averyt from the City’s board of adjustments. Averyt had served on the board for 30 years, since David Noak was mayor. Menefee asked the Council for recommendations for Averyt’s replacement. Any registered voter who lives in the City Limits may apply for the position.
Also at Monday’s meeting, the Council renewed a lease with Colorado Valley Communications (CVC) for antennas on the City’s water towers and antenna tower near the Fire Station. CVC provides the City with fiber optic and business-level internet services in exchange for the tower lease. Council voted unanimously to renew the lease.
In addition, Council unanimously approved a request from La Grange Main Street to close the parking area by the north entrance of the courthouse on Colorado St. for La Grange Uncorked wine festival on Saturday, Feb. 11.
La Grange Police Chief David Gilbreath reported that the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) plans to move out of their offices at the Police Station on March 1. DPS will move into a new space at Fayette County’s Meadows Building at 275 Ellinger Rd. Gilbreath said La Grange Police Department’s investigations unit will move into the old DPS offices.