After scheduling a slew of agenda items ranging from taking “adverse employment action” against Groves’ longtime city manager to opening investigations into his conduct in office, city councilors decided to “skip” the issues and iron out a severance package for the administative employee in a special Dec. 22 meeting.
Dozens of Groves residents appeared for the meeting set to discuss the city’s 20-year veteran, now-former City Manager D.E. Sosa.
“Mr. Sosa has asked to review his proposed severance and retirement package in a closed session,” said Mayor Chris Borne. “In the closed session, we will restrict it only to questions on the severance and retirement package. Everything else, he has requested to be in an open meeting.”
That “everything else” amounted to canceled agenda items and a few comments from citizens in support of the retiring manager.
Councilors could discuss the matter later in an open session when the city council votes on the matter at its next meeting, confirmed Groves City Attorney Brandon Monk. Councilwoman Rhonda Dugas was the only member to vote against holding the discussion in private.
The mayor and city council left a room full of stirring residents for more than an hour and 50 minutes to privately discuss the matter of Sosa’s severance package.
Picking up with agenda item No. 4, the city council agreed to accept the “separation agreement” between Groves and its city manager.
“I know everybody is here to show their support for Mr. Sosa,” Borne said. “Being that we have accepted his separation agreement, we are going to skip down to item No. 9. We are going to void all the other agenda items at this time. We’re gonna skip down to No. 9.”
The council decided to “skip” listed agenda items that included a discussion on and consideration of, adverse employment action and take a record vote as to the Office of City Manager.
Item No. 7 on the agenda would have had council members discussing whether to authorize the city attorney to conduct investigations into accusations alleging violations of the Open Meetings Act, as well as the city manager’s office.
Skipped agenda item No. 8 reads, “Authorize the City Attorney to engage the services of Third Parties relating to the investigation of the Office of City Manager, including but not limited to a forensic accountant and any other Third Party that is reasonably necessary and take a record vote.”
Instead of weighing the merits of a host of matters revolving around the city manager’s practices, council members skipped down to appointing Groves Fire Chief Lance Billeaud as interim city manager, with Borne saying, “Chief Billeaud is a respected member of this city, as well as a great point of contact for all our employees. He is very well liked and very well trusted. I truly believe he’ll do whatever we need for the city.”
Admitting that it was “hard to speak right now, based on what’s going on,” Billeaud said, “But I know that it will be a smooth transition for someone within the city. I don’t wanna talk too much because I really can’t talk right now.”
Brad Bailey, former Groves mayor, raised suspicion with how the evolving matter was handled and presented to the public.
“Take a long look in the mirror and figure it out,” said Bailey, speaking during the citizen comment portion. “D spent 20 years here and given it everything he’s got. And I don’t think any of you have anything against D, but how it all went down was shady to me. We can do better.”