GOVERNMENT Conroe begins search for city administrator, appoints city attorney to serve in interim
TIMELINE OF CHANGES
The city of Conroe has seen a changeup in leadership since early August.
AUG. 5
Terminating a contract On Aug. 13—three days after Virgadamo’s contract was terminated—the three council members who voted in support of terminating the contract released a statement via Taylorized PR. According to the statements, Porter, Hardman and Wood supported the termination as a result of a lack of communication and transparency. “I believe a change in leadership was needed to ensure transparency, growth and sustainability,” Hardman said in the statement. Further, Porter said in a statement due to the lack of information becoming routine, she felt it was time for a change to occur within the position. “I have addressed these problems with the city administrator on numerous occasions with these signi cant issues. With the continued lack of response, I just felt like the time had come when a change needed to be made,” Porter said. Virgadamo responded to the claims in an Aug. 18 email to Community Impact Newspaper. “It is classic hypocrisy to label what someone else does as ‘a lack of transparency’ when my termination was anything but transparent,” Virgadamo said in an email. “Every claim by these three council members is unfounded, and not one of the claims constitutes grounds for immediate termination of a 25-year employee without notice.” Since the termination, a petition for recalling Porter’s council seat was created, according to an Aug. 29 statement from Taylorized PR. During a Sept. 7 City Council workshop meet- ing, Porter asked council members whether they supported the recall election. Each of the ve council members verbally opposed the recall with Czajkoski saying he believes the council has worked through their issues of concern. “If anyone is listening and is involved with the recall, I don’t support it, and I’d ask you to shut it down,” Czajkoski said.
BY PEYTON MACKENZIE
Conroe City Council unanimously approved appointing City Attorney Gary Scott as the interim city administrator at an Aug. 17 meeting following the termination of a contract with former City Administrator Paul Virgadamo Jr. on Aug. 11. “This is the easiest vote I have ever said ‘yes’ to,” Council Member Harry Hardman said of Scott’s appointment during the Aug. 17 meeting. “It is a great day for Conroe.” The city also appointed Collin Boothe—who previously was the assistant director of nance—to interim director of nance following the resig- nation of former Chief Financial O cer Steve Williams, which council voted to accept Aug. 11. An item to also terminate Williams’ contract was on the agenda prior to his resignation. Virgadamo—who had been a liated with the city for over 25 years—was terminated Aug. 11 in a 3-2 vote with Council Members Marsha Porter, Howard Wood and Harry Hardman voting in support of termination. Virgadamo claimed this is the rst time Conroe City Council had terminated a contract with a city administrator. Following Scott’s appointment, Scott said he will continue to serve as city attorney while also serving as interim city administrator. He said in an interview that the transition has been smooth and attributed it to his 21 years with the city. “I see it as an honor,” Scott said. “An honor to be requested or have the ability to [become interim city administrator]. It’s new stu that’s coming my way, but … I’m kind of familiar with all the di er- ent areas of the city; being in the legal department, we touch upon everything.” Mayor Jody Czajkoski said in an interview the city will be hiring a third party to seek out can- didates for Conroe’s next city administrator. As of press time, applications for the position were slated to open up in mid-September, he said.
Council Members Howard Wood and Marsha Porter place items on the meeting agenda to terminate City Administrator Paul Virgadamo Jr. and Chief Financial O cer Steve Williams.
AUG. 11
In a split 3-2 vote, City Council terminates the contract with Virgadamo and accepts Williams’ resignation.
AUG. 17
For contract termination: Porter, Wood and Harry Hardman Against: Curt Maddux and Todd Yancey
City Attorney Gary Scott is appointed interim city administrator.
MID AUGUST A petition is formed to recall Porter’s council seat in May 2023.
AUG. 29
Porter issues a statement opposing the move to recall her seat.
IF THOSE WISHING TO RECALL ME ARE DOING SO BECAUSE THEY THINK I’M A BIG SPENDER, I ENCOURAGE THEM TO CHECK MY VOTING RECORD. I’M A CONSERVATIVE NOT BECAUSE I CALL MYSELF ONE. I’M A CONSERVATIVE BECAUSE I BEHAVE LIKE ONE. MARSHA PORTER, CONROE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER
SOURCES: CITY OF CONROE, TAYLORIZED PR COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
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CONROE MONTGOMERY EDITION • SEPTEMBER 2022
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