[1. Invocation / Pledge of Allegiance;]
[00:00:29]
>> ITEM NUMBER 1 ON THE AGENDA IS THE INVOCATION.
DR. SHELLEY GIBBS HAS VOLUNTEERED TO DO THAT THIS
EVENING. >> PLEASE JOIN ME IN PRAYER.
LET'S BOW OUR HEADS. BLESSED ARE YOU, O LORD OUR GOD. KING OF THE UNIVERSE WHO GIVES US ALL THINGS GOOD. YOU HAVE GIVEN US OUR FAMILIES, OUR FRIENDS, OUR NATION AND OUR WORLD.
AND WE ARE DESTINED TO GIVE IT BACK TO YOU IN SOME TIME.
WE THANK YOU FOR ALL THE BLESSINGS YOU HAVE BESTOWED UPON US THROUGHOUT THE LAST YEAR OF 2021.
AND HELPING US TO RISE TO THE CHALLENGES THAT HAVE ALSO APPEARED DURING THE LAST TWO YEARS OF COVERT.
WE ASK YOUR MERCY AND YOUR HEALING TOUCH AND ALL THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING. WHETHER IT BE FROM COVID OR FROM ANY OTHER AILMENTS. AND CONSOLATION FOR THOSE WHO HAVE LOST LOVED ONES DURING THIS LAST DIFFICULT TIME, LORD.
WE KNOW THAT YOU ARE ALWAYS WITH US.
YOU WALK WITH US AND YOU DRY OUR TEARS THROUGHOUT OUR DIFFICULT TIMES. BE WITH US TODAY AS WE MEET, AS WE WORK TO DIRECT THE TOWNSHIP IN PROPER WAYS.
AND WE ASK ALL OF THIS THROUGH THE HOLY NAME OF YOUR SON JESUS. AMEN.
>> AMEN. NOW THE PLEDGES TO OUR FLAGS.
>> 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.
UNDER THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO BE TEXAS. ONE STATE UNDER GOD.
ONE INDIVISIBLE. >> ALL RIGHT.
[2. Call meeting to order;]
THE MEETING HAS BEEN CALLED TO ORDER AT 6:0 2 PM.I DECLARE IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW NOTICE OF THIS MEETING WAS POSTED 72 HOURS IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING.
THIS POSTING IT OCCURRED INSIDE THE BOUNDARIES OF THE TOWNSHIP AT THIS OFFICE BUILDING. STATE LAW REQUIRES AT LEAST FOUR MEMBERS OF OUR BOARD BE IN ATTENDANCE TO ESTABLISH A QUORUM FOR CONDUCTING BUSINESS.
CORPSMAN. CHAIRMAN BUNCHE IS VICTIM OF THE OMICRON VERSION OF COVID. HE SPIKED A 103.7 DEGREE TEMPERATURE YESTERDAY. SO HE IS NOT JOINING US THIS EVENING. HOWEVER, I WILL DEFER TO THE ATTORNEYS BEFORE WE ADOPT THE AGENDA.
BECAUSE THERE IS ANOTHER (INDISCERNIBLE) WE NEED TO GET
JULIE TO EXPLAIN TO US. >> THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR.
THERE IS LANGUAGE ON YOUR AGENDA THAT YOU MAY NOT HAVE SEEN ON THERE BEFORE. IT'S A SECOND PARAGRAPH REFERENCING SECTION 551.127 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE.
I JUST WANT TO CALL IT TO YOUR ATTENTION.
THIS IS A STATUTE THAT EXISTED BEFORE COVID AND REMAINS IN PLACE. IT DOES ALLOW FOR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD TO REMOTELY ATTEND MEETINGS, BUT ONLY IF A QUORUM OF YOU ARE PHYSICALLY PRESENT HERE AT THE MEETING SITE.
BUT YOU DO HAVE TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW THAT SOMEBODY MAY ATTEND REMOTELY. THAT IS WHY THAT LANGUAGE IS ON
YOUR AGENDA. >> IT IS THE INTENTION OF THE
[3. Receive, consider and act upon adoption of the meeting agenda;]
CHAIRMAN TO JOIN US BY EXECUTIVE SESSION OF VIDEO CONFERENCING. JUST SO EVERYBODY IS CLEAR.IN THAT CASE, I NEED TO RECEIVE AND ACT UPON AN ADOPTION OF THE
[4. Recognize public officials;]
>> SECOND.> THE MOTION HAS CARRIED.
OKAY. VICE CHAIR WILL RECOGNIZE
[5. Public comment;]
PUBLIC OFFICIALS. I DON'T SEE ANY PUBLIC OFFICIALS IN THE AUDIENCE, EXCEPT THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE ALDEN BRIDGE ASSOCIATION, MR. STEVE (NAME).WE WILL MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENT. PARTICIPATION BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IS WELCOME AND ENCOURAGED.
[00:05:08]
A PUBLIC COMMENT AGENDA IS INCLUDED AT THE BEGINNING OF ALL REGULAR BOARD MEETING AGENDAS.ACCORDING WITH THE BOARD ADOPT A POLICY TO PRODUCE THE MOST EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE PROCESS FOR ALLOWING CONSTITUENTS TO ADDRESS THE BOARD. THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP BOARD OF DIRECTORS ACCEPTS PUBLIC COMMENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH TH FOLLOWING GUIDELINES . EACH PERSON WISHING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD MUST FIRST SIGN THE SPEAKERS ROSTER PROVIDED BY THE BOARD SECRETARY. INDIVIDUALS WHO MAKE GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS TO ADDRESS A TOPIC NOT ON THE AGENDA OR WHO WISH TO ADDRESS SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEMS MUST DO SO UNDER THE PUBLIC COMMENTS AGENDA ITEM AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING.
INDIVIDUALS WILL BE LIMITED TO A TOTAL OF THREE MINUTES REGARDLESS OF NUMBER OF TOPICS. SPEAKERS WILL BE TAKEN IN THE ORDER WHICH THEY SIGN UP. ANY SPEAKER MAY YIELD THEIR TIME TO ANOTHER ON THE LIST. STATE LAW PROHIBITS THE BOARD FROM FORMALLY ACTING ON A SPECIFIC ITEM OR PUBLIC COMMENT UNLESS IT APPEARS ON THE POSTED AGENDA.
THEREFORE ANY DISCUSSION ON AN ITEM NOT ON AGENDA -- -- WHETHER IT SHOULD BE PLACED ON A FUTURE BOARD AGENDA.
SPEAKERS MAY EXPRESS THEIR OPINIONS OR VIEWPOINTS ON AN ISSUE BUT ARE NOT PERMITTED TO PARTICIPATE IN DEBATE ON AN ISSUE. SPEAKERS WILL NOT USE PROFANITY. COMMENTS FROM SPEAKERS CAN BE MADE TO THE BOARD AS A WHOLE OR TO INDIVIDUAL DIRECTORS.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO REMIND YOU TO PLEASE PLACE YOUR CELL PHONES ON SILENT MODE. WE HAVE ONE PERSON SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. AND THAT IS THE EFFORT
MENTIONED STEVE (NAME). >> THANK YOU, MR. VICE CHAIRMAN. I DO HAVE A HANDOUT WHICH IS BEING DISTRIBUTED TO YOU NOW. AS A RESIDENT, WHEN I SAW THE AGENDA FOR THIS EVENING, I FELT COMPELLED TO SUBMIT SOME COMMENTS RELATIVE TO AGENDA ITEMS SEVEN A AND B. TO EXPRESS SOME SERIOUS CONCERNS THAT I HAVE ABOUT THE CURRENT STATE OF THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP STAFF. FOR YOUR INFORMATION, A COPY OF THIS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO THE PRESS AS WELL.
NUMBER 1, THE SENIOR POSITION DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES REMAINS UNFULFILLED AFTER A DELAY OF MANY MONTHS.
NUMBER 2, THE SENIOR POSITION OF DIRECTOR OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES REMAINS UNFILLED AFTER A DELAY OF MANY MONTHS. THREE, OTHER STAFF POSITIONS THAT REMAIN UNFILLED DUE TO THE LACK OF THE HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR. FOR, THE CANCELLATION OF PERIODIC SENIOR STAFF MEETINGS TO DISCUSS ALL PERTINENT BUSINESS OF THE TOWNSHIP. TO ME, THAT BORDERS ON MANAGEMENT MALPRACTICE. ANY ORGANIZATION WHERE THE SENIOR STAFF DOESN'T SIT DOWN AND VISIT ABOUT THE GOOD, THE BAD AND UGLY ON A REGULAR PERIODIC BASIS IS NOT BEING RUN -- IT'S BEING DICTATED. NUMBER 5, MY IMPRESSION THAT LOW MORALE AND DISCONTENT IS WIDESPREAD WITHIN THE STAFF.
I HEAR THIS CONSTANTLY FROM A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT SOURCES.
NUMBER 6, WE ARE, OF COURSE, A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED COMMUNITY. AND ONE OF THE REASONS FOR THAT IS WE ARE COMPRISED OF NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ORGANIZATIONS LIKE OUR PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, FINANCE ADMINISTRATION, NATIONAL NIGHTS OUT, ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICE DEPARTMENTS.
AS WELL AS OUR ROLE MODEL ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT WHICH IS CONTACTED THROUGH DEVELOPMENTAL COMMUNITIES TO LEARN HOW TO DO THIS. THEY ARE ALL AT RISK, IN MY VIEW, BECAUSE OF THE ENVIRONMENT WHICH EXISTS IN OUR COMMUNITY. CONCERNING ITEM 10 ON THE AGENDA, WE ARE BLESSED TO HAVE A NUMBER OF QUALIFIED CANDIDATES WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION TO SERVE AS INTERIM OR PERHAPS PERMANENT DIRECTORS.
AS THIS BOARD KNOWS, I HAVE PREFERENCE FOR WHENEVER POSSIBLE TO PROMOTE FROM WITHIN.
FOR THE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGE POSITION WHICH WILL BE DISCUSSED IN ITEM 10. NUMBER 1, MY GUESS IS JOHN POWERS WOULD CONSIDER AN INTERIM ARRANGEMENT TO RETURN FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. NOT FOREVER.
BUT IF THERE EVER WAS A COMMUNITY SERVANT, IT WOULD BE JOHN POWERS AND I GUESS HE WOULD COME BACK IF REQUESTED.
MONIQUE SHARP HAS SUCCESSFULLY CO-FILLED THIS POSITION IN THE PAST. AND OBVIOUSLY KNOWS HOW TO DO IT. KAREN DEMPSEY WHO HAPPILY RETURNED BACK TO OUR GROUP HAS A VERY BROAD KNOWLEDGE OF THE WHOLE OPERATION. AND I AM SURE COULD BE CAPABLE OF FILLING THE POSITION. AND DR. CHRIS NUNES, OF COURSE,
[00:10:08]
IS CAPABLE OF ANY ROLE. BUT MY GUESS IS HE PROBABLY WOULDN'T LIKE TO DO IT BECAUSE HE IS A PARKS AND RECREATION BUFF AND GOD LOVE HIM FOR THAT. I WILL BE THROUGH IN JUST A SECOND. ANYONE WHOHAS BEEN (INDISCERNIBLE) . LASTLY, I REQUEST THAT WE HEAR DIRECTLY FROM EACH MEMBER AFTER YOUR CLOSED MEETING SO WE CAN HEAR THE VIEWS OF ALL SIX OF YOU.AND IT DIRECTOR BUNCH, IF HE IS ABLE TO JOIN US REMOTELY.
I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR MORE ACTUAL COMMENTS FROM EVERYONE SO WE COULD GET TO KNOW MEMBERS OF THE BOARD WHO IN MANY CASES DON'T SAY ANYTHING OVER THE COURSE OF A BOARD MEETING.
HOW ELSE CAN WE GET TO KNOW YOU IF WE CAN'T ATTEND THE CLOSE MEETINGS? LASTLY, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THIS BOARD REEVALUATE ITS ROLE AS OVERSIGHT.
BECAUSE THE CONDITIONS THAT I JUST DESCRIBED WITHIN AN ORGANIZATION SHOULD NOT TAKE PLACE.
IT'S YOUR JOB TO SUPERVISE, IN MY VIEW, TO SUPERVISE THE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER. TO MAKE SURE THESE KINDS OF THINGS DO NOT EXIST. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR LISTENING. RESPECTFULLY SUBMIT THESE, MR. VICE
CHAIRMAN. >> THANK YOU, STEVE.
I HAVE ONE QUESTION FOR CLARIFICATION.
[7. Recess to Executive Session to discuss personnel matters pursuant to §551.074, and to consult with The Woodlands Township’s attorney pursuant to §551.071, Texas Government Code; In accordance with Texas Government Code, Chapter 551, Subchapter D, the Township Board will recess into Executive Session (closed meeting) to discuss the following:]
>> ARE YOU INVITED TO SENIOR STAFF MEETINGS AT THE TOWNSHIP?
SO YOU HAVE ANECDOTAL KNOWLEDGE OF THAT?
>> EXACTLY. SINCE I'M NOT PERSONALLY INVITED -- I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ATTEND IF I WAS INVITED.
>> ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT? IN THAT CASE, WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
AND WE HAVE NO CONSENT AGENDA. WE HAVE NO ITEMS ON THE REGULAR AGENDA. SO AT THIS POINT, WE WILL MOVE TO EXECUTIVE SESSION. VICE CHAIRMAN, HEREBY ANNOUNCES THAT THE BOARD WILL RECESS TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
TO DISCUSS MATTERS RELATING TO -- TEXAS GOVERNME
[8. Reconvene in public session;]
[9. Receive, consider and act upon agreement with Jeff Jones, President and General Manager;]
>> OKAY. BACK IN SESSION RIGHT AT 8:00.
ITEM 9 VICE CHAIR CALLS FOR A MOTION AND APPROVE OF AN AGREEMENT JEFF JONES BASED ON TERMS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. FINAL APPOINTMENT OF MONDAY, JANUARY 3, 2022.
[10. Consider, discuss and take action to appoint interim President and General Manager;]
ITEM 10. CONSIDER DISCUSS AND TAKE ACTION TO APPOINT INTERIM PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER.DR. SCHNEIDER? >> I MOVED TO APPOINT MONIQUE SHARP TO POSITION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL UP IS OR AN INTERIM GENERAL MANAGER AND PERSON EFFECTIVE JANUARY 3, 2022.
AND TO DELEGATE SIGNATORY AUTHORITY AND DUTIES TO THE BOARD CHAIRMAN WHEN THE DUTIES OF SUCH POSITIONS CONFLICT WITH
>> ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. CONGRATULATIONS, MONIQUE! [APPLAUSE] I ALSO WANT TO REITERATE WHAT WE DID AT OUR LAST BOARD MEETING.
THAT IS APPOINTMENT OF ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGERS, KAREN DEMPSEY AND DOCTOR CHRIS NUNES.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEW LEADERSHIP TEAM.
WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK AHEAD OF US AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. OKAY.
AND THAT WILL TAKE US TO -- SOMEWHERE ON THE AGENDA.
[11. Consideration of items to be placed on the agenda for next month's meeting;]
WILL FIND IT HERE IN A MINUTE. OKAY.DISCUSS FUTURE AGENDA AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.
CONSIDERATIONS FOR ITEMS TO PLACE ON THE AGENDA NEXT
MEETING. >> I HAVE ONE, PLEASE, VICE CHAIRMAN. THAT IS THE CALENDAR FOR 2022.
>> YEAH, OKAY. >> WE APPROVED JANUARY, BUT NOT
--. >> I THINK, DR. SCHNEIDER, WE
ARE GOING TO COVER THAT ON --. >> OKAY.
[00:15:06]
>> IS THAT OKAY? >> THAT'S FINE.
>> I DO.F POSSIBLE, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK TO DO A COVID UPDATE. IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE WE HAVE HAD AN UPDATE. AND I THINK THERE IS ENOUGH NEW INFORMATION OUT THERE THAT IS AFFECTING OUR COMMUNITY THAT I
THINK WOULD BE WORTHWHILE. >> OKAY.
BUT THAT ON THE LIST. ANYTHING ELSE? IN THAT CASE, BOARD ANNOUNCEMENTS?
MOTION TO ADJOURN? >> SO MOVED.
>> SECOND. >> ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.