FERRIS APPROVES HELP FOR CITY MANAGER DUTIES

FERRIS – Mayor Jim Swafford was given approval to contract with former Ferris City Manager Carl Sherman as a consultant to assist with certain areas needed to be handled by a city manager for a period of six months during Monday, June 17’s regular meeting of the city council.

Sherman, a current State Representative, agreed to help with those duties for the city while the legislative session was in recess.

Sherman has also previously served as Hutchins City Manager and DeSoto Mayor.

The city manager position here was vacated two weeks ago when then City Manager Bill Jordan resigned following months of Ferris residents pleading for the city council to fire him for casting a bad reputation on the city – allegedly condoning sexual misconduct of city officials, being publicly censured by the International City Managers Association for violations of its code of ethics, interfering with certain developer’s plans for growth in the city, as well as many other issues.

The approval for Sherman’s help was announced following a lengthy executive session of the council, lasting well past 9 p.m.

Also approved was for staff to review the contract between the city and the Ferris Bar & Grill concerning the Ferris City Alley Park – a contract personally written by former City Manager Jordan (without the advice of the city attorney), and to make changes needed – such as security guards for the outside park area specifically during bar hours after police and fire officials ordered that the alley gates must remain open at all times per Texas law and without parked cars blocking the front and rear entrances.

The free use of Ferris public property by the bar – without any compensation to the city – has been a contentious subject since first authorized by the former city manager.

Councilwoman Sherie Chapman had always objected, proclaiming the precedent it might set for the city.

On Monday night, she said this has already happened, with several downtown business owners contacting her to inquire about utilizing their adjoining alleys for business and parking, since the bar was doing it – for free.

“We’ve been receiving complaints about the parking in front and back of the Bar & Grill’s gates,” said Public Safety Director Eddie Salazar.

He said the fire hydrant at the front cannot be blocked, and during the recent water crisis, bar patron’s cars parked in the rear made it extremely difficult for public works employees to access the city pump station.

Salazar said the street in front of the alley will be marked off, and no parking signs will be installed where needed in front and back.

During Monday night’s public comments section, Patsy Bonner, a former Ferris police dispatcher, spoke concerning the fallen officer’s memorial, and said the flowers were dying and not being replaced as was the former agreement every three months from Bundle of Love Florist before they changed hands.

Chamber of Commerce President Jason Crenshaw informed the audience about the upcoming groundbreaking ceremony for the Ferris Town Center on Friday, June 21 at 3 p.m. 

Sharon Harris told council members she thought an interim city manager was a good idea

Former City Councilman Bobby Lindsey, who lost his seat last month to Tommy Scott, spoke in favor of the Ferris Bar & Grill, saying “the so-called fire marshal didn’t seem to have a problem with a ‘trashy’ car lot on the frontage road by the Valero gas station, but when we have someone who wants to beautify the city (owner Richard Ho), we are on him constantly.”

Lindsey, who has been a fixture on the front row every meeting since he was voted out, then complained about the special-called meeting that was canceled last week for a lack of quorum, and citing his “four years of experience” as a councilman – declared the three council members who attended the meeting and talked after the meeting was adjourned were discussing city business illegally.

City Attorney Michael Halla, who also attended the special-called meeting Lindsey complained about – and remained with the three council members, said after Monday night’s meeting adjourned per Texas Government Code, for a special-called meeting it requires a minimum of four council (voting) members to establish a quorum, and since there were only three members, there was no quorum – and thus perfectly legal.

Former Ellis County Constable Gary Witherspoon, a long-time Ferris resident, also spoke in support for the bar, then let his temper explode outside after the council adjourned into executive session.

“Let’s go get a drink at the bar – while we still have one,” said Witherspoon to Mickey Johnson and others outside council chambers as he headed across the street.

Later while in the adjoining alley park, he flipped a vulgar hand signal to attendee Ronnie Magness standing outside council chambers, then upon returning inside for the meeting, shouted obscenities to audience members.

Witherspoon was immediately grabbed and escorted by force out of the meeting by officers and told to call someone to pick him up because he woud be arrested if he got into his car to drive.

One woman said she was “highly offended,” but when asked – declined to file a formal complaint against him.

Other items discussed in the closed session were the duties of the Public Safety Officer, which was approved when council reconvened in open session, and an investigation of the recent water crisis and water department personnel.

Other actions at the meeting included the appointment and swearing-in of David Maki to the Planning & Zoning Commission, the promotion and oath of office to Jordan Mount from firefighter to captain, and certificates of appreciation to Pastor Dick Lambert and Chaplain Larry Hunt for the work they do as chaplains and helpers during critical times. The two also made it possible for the Salvation Army to supply water to those in need recently.

Items approved unanimously included authorizing the mayor to sign an engagement letter with Robert Rivera of FMS bonds as the city’s bond underwriter for future projects and the regular minutes and expenses to be paid.