September 2023

Texas Welcomes Attendees at the 2023 ICMA Annual Conference
TCMA to Host Booth at the TML Annual Conference
Management Transitions
New Members
New Member Applications
Meet Your Colleagues
 “Go Get ‘Em Tiger”
Ethics Corner
The TML Risk Pool and Loss Prevention: Saving Lives, Preventing Injuries, and Protecting Property
Awards and Scholarships
Around the State
TCMA Educational Events
Memos on Meetings

Texas Welcomes Attendees at the 2023 ICMA Annual Conference 

The ICMA Annual Conference is coming to Texas and TCMA is a Conference Sponsor! Texas will welcome attendees during the Exhibit Hall Opening Reception on Sunday, October 1, at 3:30 p.m. Arrive at the doors early and welcome the attendees as they enter the Hall. TCMA will also welcome guests in their designated area in the Hall located at Product Theater A.

If you’re attending the Conference, please plan to attend the Annual Texas Reception on Monday, October 2, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at Moonshine Grill, located at 303 Red River Street.

Texas to Host Booth at the TML Annual Conference

TCMA is excited to host an exhibit booth at the Texas Municipal League Annual Conference and Exhibition on October 4-6 in Dallas. The booth will promote the Campaign for Professional and Ethical City Management. Encourage your elected officials to visit booth 1318 and learn how professionally trained individuals are critical for the day-to-day operation of cities. TCMA extends a special thanks to all the volunteers for participating and sharing their expertise. 

Don’t forget to support the TCMA hosted educational session at 9:15-10:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 5. The City of Mansfield, recipient of the 2023 TCMA City Council of the Year Award, will be showcased. They will present Problems Have Solutions; Predicaments Have Outcomes; Leaders Have a Plan Fueled by Data.

To register and learn more about the Conference, click here. 

Management transitions

Fred Bell is no longer the city manager of the City of La Grange. Frank Menefee, Jr. is serving as the interim city manager.

Rick Beverlin will no longer serve as city manager of the City of Leander, effective November 1. He will be the new city manager of the City of Nacogdoches.

Mike Castro is no longer the city manager of the City of Murphy. Allen Barnes is serving as the interim city manager.

Kevin Coleman is no longer the city manager of the City of Yoakum.

Richard Crandal Jr. is no longer the city administrator of the City of Niederwald. Sara Montgomery is the new city administrator.

David Dockery will retire as the city administrator of the City of Clarendon. Brian Barboza will be serving as the new city administrator, effective October 1.

Steve Dye is no longer the city manager of the City of Grand Prairie. Bill Hills is the new city manager.

Brandon Elrod is serving as the city superintendent for the Town of Follett.

Don Ferguson will retire as the village administrator of the Village of Salado, effective December 31.

James Fisher is the new city manager of the City of Levelland, effective October 1.

Rod Hutto is no longer the city administrator of the City of Kountze. Tim Drake is serving as the interim city administrator.

Daniel S. Johnson is the interim city manager of the City of Manvel.

Bobby Martinez is no longer the city manager of the City of Jourdanton. 

John McDonald is the new city administrator of the City of Spring Valley Village, effective September 5.

Jared Miller is no longer the city manager of the City of Amarillo. Andrew Freeman is serving as the acting city manager.

Rebecca Ramos is the new city manager for the City of Kempner

Dalton Rice is no longer the city manager of the City of Morgan’s Point Resort. He is the new city manager of the City of Kerrville, effective October 2.

Jaime Sandoval is no longer the city manager of the City of La Feria. Frank Rios is serving as the interim city manager.

John Strenski is no longer the city administrator of the City of Lakeside City.

Brian Weaver is the new city manager of the City of Merkel.

Jennifer Jones Ward is no longer the city manager of the City of Simonton. She is the new city administrator of the City of Brookshire, effective August 14.

Susan Beth Woodson retired as the city administrator of the City of Bells on June 30. Cody Nelson is the new city administrator.

New Members

The TCMA Management Messenger welcomes the following new members approved by the Executive Committee on August 24, 2023.

Full: Darrell Kennon, City Manager, Vernon 

Cooperating: Esther Williams, Assistant to the City Manager, DeSoto

Student: Brian Chaddick and Andrew Cheramie, University of North Texas

New Member Applications

The current TCMA Board policy requires that names of new member applicants be published each month in the Management Messenger. Any written objection during the subsequent 30-day period will be reviewed by the Membership Committee. If no objections are received during this time, the names will be submitted to the Executive Committee for approval. Written objections can be mailed to TCMA, Attention: Membership Committee, 1821 Rutherford Lane, Suite 400, Austin, TX 78754. Applications received in the month of August:

Full:  DeWayne Armstrong, City Administrator, Pineland; Beau Falgout, Assistant City Manager, Cedar Park; Dr. Jonathan Flores, Interim City Manager, Pharr; David Friedlein, II, Assistant City Manager, Pharr;  Jason Magnum, Assistant City Manager, Missouri City

Associate: Brianna Brown, Business Development Director, Lubbock; Justin Eastwood, Director of Parks and Recreation, Denison; Esther Weaver, Communications & Marketing Manager/Assistant to the City Manager, Morgan’s Point Resort;

Meet Your Colleagues

The TCMA Management Messenger welcomes Kimberly Judge to her new position as city manager for the City of Dayton as of January 13. Kimberly has more than 38 years of combined municipal government experience, serving the cities of Beaumont, Baytown, and Sealy, with the last eight years in Dayton. During her eight years, she served as director of planning, assistant city manager, and interim public works director. She has a love and connection with the community that will make her a successful city manager.

Kimberly has a Bachelor of Science degree from Prairie View A&M University (1987) and has numerous hours of municipal management training including leadership development and planning with an extensive background working in various city departments.

Kimberly grew up in Beaumont and has been living in Liberty County for more than 22 years. She is married with one son and three grandchildren. She loves her community and participates in many civic and social activities. She has a passion for gardening, antique cars, roasting coffee, and mead-making.

"Go Get 'em Tiger!"

During the closing Sunday breakfast of the TCMA conference a couple of years ago, the keynote speaker challenged the crowd with haunting words.
 
“What’s something you’ve always wanted to do but have never done?”
 
I knew my answer. Immediately. I’ve always wanted to write a book.

A few months before, I had lost my “adopted” grandmother, Joan, who happened to be the actual grandmother of my great friend Mike Goodrum, Sugar Land’s city manager.

Thankfully, I was in Houston for the TML Conference where Saginaw was being recognized as an award winner in October of 2021. I stole away to an assisted living facility in Sugar Land the evening before the opening session to see Joan. She wasn’t feeling well, but little did I know she would pass away later that night. I’m forever grateful for that time together. Though she couldn’t speak, I know for sure she recognized me. 

We, after all, had been the unlikeliest of roommates for nearly four years when I lived with Joan early in my career working for the City of Sugar Land. At that time, I was in my early twenties, and she was in her eighties. Joan’s wisdom, encouragement, and unyielding love helped me become the person I am today: a husband, a father, and a city manager. She never doubted me for a second in any endeavor I might have pursued, even if I doubted myself.

When she left this world full of years and full of grace, there was a void left in me that can’t ever be filled completely. But this pesky, nagging feeling in my heart knew that sharing our time together was a story worth telling, if not for me, then maybe for the kids to read someday.

The effort that goes into writing is tiring, much like the effort that goes into leading a city with the grace and professionalism that TCMA members do each day.

I found writing to be an outlet for me to cope with the stress you know all too well of serving the public and our elected officials. I’m not a particularly brilliant person, but I am fairly disciplined in my old age. 

So, one page at a time, I set to the work of writing my (first) book, Strangers and Angels: Finding Family in Unexpected Places. Pre-sales are now available at Strangers and Angels.

It is guaranteed to sell at least one copy, since my mother said she would buy one.

To whatever challenge might be facing you as you read this, I share Joan’s advice:

“There is nothing that can keep a good person down forever. You are smart and kind. You treat people the way they ought to be treated. There is nothing you can’t do. You know I love you and I always will. Go get ‘em, Tiger!”

(Article submitted by Gabe Reaume, City Manager, Saginaw)

Ethics corner

The role of ethics in city management cannot be understated. Our code of ethics is the foundation that the profession was built upon. It serves as the compass that points us in the right direction and the tenets function as the boundaries we must stay within in order to remain true to the acceptable standards and conduct of our profession.  

Members of the Texas City Management Association are held to the tenets of the Code of Ethics as a condition of membership in TCMA. This means that if a TCMA member is found to have violated one of the ethical tenets, they can be held accountable through four possible sanctions: private censure, public censure, expulsion, or a membership bar. TCMA is the second largest state association in the nation and is only one of about a dozen that has its own adopted rules of enforcement so that the Code of Ethics can be enforced at the state level. The TCMA Code of Ethics is identical to the ICMA Code of Ethics and if someone is a member of both organizations, jurisdiction belongs to ICMA to handle the complaint.  

Ethics complaints can be initiated by anyone if they feel that something has occurred which violates the Code. A complaint is handled both with a high level of confidentiality and a specific process that ensures that facts are gathered, and a member is given the opportunity to respond before any determination is made. Although it is important to uphold our ethical tenets for the good of the profession, it is equally important to ensure that members are not unfairly accused of something that could have a detrimental effect on their career.  

Looking into complaints is one of the functions of the Ethics Committee, but it is something that the committee hopes to avoid whenever possible. The perception of the Ethics Committee should not be that of the “hall monitors” and the Code of Ethics should not be seen as the rigid rules that members have to follow or face discipline. It is the goal of the Ethics Committee to promote our tenets and serve as a resource for TCMA members in order to provide the tools they need to navigate the grey areas.  

The Ethics Committee is made up of TCMA members representing all regions of the State and can serve as a resource for anyone who may need guidance on an ethical question. There have been several instances where members with ethical quandaries have reached out for advice or contacted the committee to get in front of an issue that may be occurring. This can not only help navigate a difficult situation but can also potentially prevent a complaint from being initiated. 

The Ethics Committee is here to help and provide members of TCMA anything possible to promote and maintain the profession’s ethical standards.  

(Article submitted by Ethics Committee Chair Matt Mueller and Town Manager, Little Elm)

The TML Risk Pool and Loss Prevention: Saving Lives, Preventing Injuries, and Protecting Property

This article is one of several to come, written by each of the seven current city managers who serve on the 18-Member TML Risk Pool Board of Trustees. 

Last month, Chris Coffman wrote about the insurance crisis of the 1980s. That was a long time ago, but today’s financial environment is similar in some ways, especially regarding insurance companies. Inflation and large losses are forcing some major ones to pull out of certain markets. Today, as back then, the TML Risk Pool continues to have your back. As one of the city managers on the TML Risk Pool’s Board of Trustees today, I believe that educating you about why the Pool remains the best choice should be a priority.

The Texas Municipal League created the TML Risk Pool in 1974 and expanded coverage offerings in 1981, largely because the traditional insurance industry was unwilling to do so. In 1988, TML reorganized its service delivery system, and the TML Risk Pool became a stand-alone entity governed by a separate Board of Trustees. That same year, the Pool created its first internal Loss Prevention Department and hired four employees to begin helping Members.

The insurance industry commonly refers to “loss control” as a collection of techniques, best practices, and proactive measures designed to reduce the likelihood of a claim being made against an insurance policy. Essentially, loss control helps a customer identify sources of risk and take action to reduce them. The Pool’s department is called Loss Prevention. That’s because our ultimate goal isn’t just to “control” losses, it’s to prevent them from happening. In fact, the Pool’s loss prevention focus is embedded in our mission statement:

“The mission of the Texas Municipal League Intergovernmental Risk Pool is to offer and provide Texas municipalities and other units of government with a stable and economic source of risk financing and loss prevention services.”

To implement that mission, the Loss Prevention Department now consists of 21 staff, including 12 field consultants and 3 training specialists that interact regularly with Members. (Each city has a dedicated consultant.) How can they help you? Through individual visits a consultant can discuss your entity’s efforts, review loss history and current trends, and deliver practical recommendations applicable to your exposures or operations. In addition, the department provides:

• Training and Education, which is available through various methods, including onsite training, online learning, webinars, and a media library. 
• Resources and Publications, including training programs, sample manuals, inspection forms, and accident prevention plans.
• Loss Prevention T.I.P.S. (Together Improving Processes and Safety) Sheets, which are one-page information sheets on a variety of risk management topics. 
• Specialized publications, including aquatics, disaster preparedness, return to work, excavation documentation, fireworks safety, and more. 
• Partnership with the Texas Police Chiefs Association for law enforcement resources and prepayment of fees for TPCA’s and the Texas Fire Chiefs Association’s Best Practices Recognition Programs.
• Cyber liability resources. 
• Specialized on-site assessments, audits, and surveys to identify conditions, hazards, or other exposures to loss. (Specialized exposures and operations include natural gas utilities, electric utilities, and aquatic surveys.)

Visit www.tmlirp.org and click on the “Risk Management” tab to learn more. Thank you for your confidence in me and the other city managers on the Pool’s Board. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me or Scott Houston, the Pool’s intergovernmental relations manager (512-791-4158 or scott.houston@tmlirp.org). 

(Article submitted by Jeffrey Snyder, City Manager, City of Plainview; ICMA Credentialed Manager; Past President of the Panhandle City Management Association; and Trustee since 2018, Place 3, TML Risk Pool Board of Trustees)

awards and scholarships

Professional Awards and Scholarships

Each year, TCMA provides opportunities to recognize colleagues for their outstanding service to the city management profession, honor an outstanding city council for significant contributions to local government in Texas, and recognize an academician who has made significant contributions to the 
formal education of students pursuing careers in local government. The deadline for submissions is January 5, 2024.

AWARD PROGRAMS

• Administrator of the Year 
• Assistant of the Year Award in Memory of Valerie Bradley
• Associate Member of the Year (New)
• City Council of the Year 
• Excellence in Ethics and Integrity 
• Lifetime Achievement 
• Mentoring in Memory of Gary Gwyn
• Terrell Blodgett Academician 

For information and applications, click here. 

TCMA also provides opportunities for professional development through scholarships. Unless otherwise noted, the deadline for submissions is January 5, 2024.  
 

SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS

• Barney L. Knight Texas CPM Scholarship
• Clarence E. Ridley Scholarship
• Leadership Development Scholarship
• Tom Muehlenbeck Scholarship (Deadline April 5, 2024) 

NEW SCHOLARSHIP!

Julie Robinson Emerging Leader Professional Development Scholarship

This $5,000 scholarship was created in memory of Julie Robinson for her enduring mentorships and passion for professional development. 

For information about all scholarships, click here.

If you have questions about any of these programs, please contact Kirsten Davis at kdavis@tml.org or 512-231-7400.

Around the state

TCMA Region 8 hosts TCMA President Opal Mauldin-Jones in the City of Schertz on August 25.

Past President David Harris, Region 8 Director Jordan Matney, President Opal Mauldin-Jones, TML Board Representative Steve Williams

tcma educational EVENTS

TCMA Podcast  
Perspectives on City Management  
Listen to episodes here.

Tex-ICMA Coaching Webinars 
(For more information and to register, click here)

High Performance Local Government: Creating a Culture of Higher Organizational Performance
12:30-2:00 p.m., Thursday, September 7

Career Pathways to Move Up the Local Government Ladder
12:30-2:00 p.m., Thursday, October 19
 
What to Do When Everything is Falling Apart: How to Reset
12:30-2:00 p.m., Thursday, November 16

Memos on Meetings

The Ethics Committee met on August 10 by video conference. Meeting minutes are available here. The Committee is scheduled to meet on September 21 by video conference.

The Membership Committee met on August 17 by video conference. Meeting minutes are available here. 

The Professional Development Committee met on August 30-September 1 in South Padre Island. Meeting minutes are available here.

The Advocacy Committee will meet by video conference on September 7. 

The Allies Committee will meet on September 13 by video conference. 

The City Managers of Tomorrow Committee will meet on September 14 by video conference.

The next Board meeting is September 22 in Austin.