News Bulletin (Castroville, Tex.), Vol. 42, No. 49, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 7, 2000 Page: 1 of 16
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Castroville - La Coste
0110
Volume 41
Forty-eighth Issue
lixed TX ZipsA
BAZE Book Binding
514 W. 7th St.
Amarillo TX
99
79101
III
Thursday December 7,2000
Castroville, Texas
Agenda
County Commission - Dec. 4
City CouneiI - Dec. 12
Sch oo I B oa rd - Dec. 20
La Coste City Council - Dec. 20
750
Whistleblower gets raise while supervisor gets demotion
Adelina Gonzales member,” she said.
Staff Writer Meissner claimed that last
Deputy City Secretary and year when the 1099s were
Accounting Supervisor Linda issued, Councilwoman Linda
Jensen was demoted from her Guerra came into the office ask-
supervisory position Tuesday, ing where they were. Meissner
then passed unanimously.
She then proceeded to vehe- ry position, which was passed putting his name in the paper.
Meissner was given a 76 cent mently deny all the allegations unanimously.
When
asked
by
after a barrage of complaints
against her by Accounting Clerk
Shaundi Meissner last week.
The demotion is due to an
abuse of her supervisory posi-
tion according to the city coun-
cil and it will reduce Jensen’s
answered she didn’t know and
hadn’t seen them. She said she
was instructed to tell Guerra she
per hour raise that would make Meissner had just made against
her pay comparable to other her. She said that in regards to
city hall workers, Hancock said, the 1099 Meissner was never
The unfavorable review she instructed to lie.
received shortly after her report Jensen explained
about possible misuse of city
funds in the purchasing of two
had just sent them out that day. personal computers will be
Meissner also said Jensen removed from her record and
often times would read person- destroyed.
al e-mail and get on the internet
salary to what it was before her during working hours. She also
promotion. She will keep any
cost of living
adjustments that
would have been
received during
the time.
Meissner
* emerged vindicat-
ed and was grant-
ed virtually all of
her requests.
Before council
claimed that when Jensen was
Hancock said it was unfortu-
nate she was not given a copy
of her job description prior to
employed part- the review. She will be given a
time'as a.census job description, and Meissner
worker, she was will initial it as received and
setting up inter- reviewed. Hancock said this will
views on compa- probably become standard
ny time. practice.
Councilwoman Meissner will also receive
Karen Gilliam- proper training on the software
Fifield asked if she she uses for her current job as
had any proof to requested. At the last meeting,
that Guerra had
come into the office
and became very
upset with Meissner
because she didn’t
know where the
1099s were. Jensen
claims Guerra made
remarks about
Meissner’s incom-
petence. . She
claimed Meissner
“This is for what reason?” Councilwoman Karen Gilliam
Jensen asked. Fifield if Castro had anything'
“I guess it would fall under else to add, he reported he was
the discipline code I guess. It just looking for closure. ■ ..
____________was an abuse of Hancock asked Castro if the
1 your authority,” inappropriate comments he
Masters said, made to Meissner were said
• “How did I maliciously. Castro said that
abuse it?"
1 Jensen asked.
A“Well, it
a seems to be
. from the com-
I plaint from Ms.
a Meissner and
Shaundi Meissner the memos and
the review,” he
ruled on
Meissner’s com-
Louis Castro
support her
claims, and
plaint, she was asked if there
was anything else she would
like to add. Meissner said there
Meissner said the
computer files should be able to
state when she was on the
internet. Fifield conceded that
she claimed that neither City
Administrator Donna Schueling
or Jensen knew how to use the
software themselves and there-
fore could never train her on it.
was simply instructed not to tell
people she didn’t know about
things, but rather that she
would .find out.
Jensen denied doing census
work on the city dime and has
no idea where such claims
came from. She said that
answered.
“I guess I don’t understand
was up to council to decide, but
he didn’t intend them to be. :
“I felt very concerned about-
being in the newspaper. I did
say it, but I wasn’t malicious. It
was just an overreaction on my
part,” he said.
Castro added that he had
never been in the paper before
and didn’t like seeing his name
in there and hoped this would
that. I was only doing my job be the last time.
with the memos,” she replied. “We don’t feel it was mali-
The exchange quickly ended cious. We believe it was in poof
when City Attorney Vivian judgment,” Hancock said. - :
Torres told Masters he didn’t Hancock took the opportuni-
need to answer the questions, ty to say a few words about the
Meissner herself was guilty of Jensen responded by gathering entire situation among the
getting on her computer and her things and leaving the office employees.
using the internet, claiming meeting. “All of you are working close-
Before the city council ruled there were three witnesses who
were three other issues regard- could be checked into.
Maintenance Custodian ly together in there, I think you
ing Jensen she had forgotten to
mention at the last council
, meeting.
“I didn’t mention the fact that
I was asked to lie to a council
Meissner could offer no proof to
substantiate her other claims.
Councilman Robert Hancock
on Jensen, she was asked if
there was anything else she
would like to add.
Jensen replied, “I don’t have
made the motion granting anymore to add,it just becomes
Meissner’s requests and it was a ‘he said/she said’ argument.”
could back up her claim about Louis Castro was verbally repri- all need to work together, be
that. manded for misconduct toward cheerful, and do your job. This
The explanations didn’t help. Meissner.. She said at the last is a valuable lesson to you as
Councilman Michael Masters council meeting Castro had cor- well as the other employees in
made a motion to demote her nered her in the hallway and the city. You learn to think
due to misuse of her supervise- sarcastically thanked her for before you speak,” he said.
Hardt named teacher of the year
Adelina Gonzales
Staff Writer
KENS 5 News and San
Antonio Credit Union present-
ed Medina Valley. Elementary
School teacher Valeria “Val”
Hardt with the ExCEL award.
In addition to being named
teacher of the year for the
school district, she received a
individuals then went through be on the six o’clock news on behalf of SACU. “You can
a narrowing down process Thursday, something the chil- spend [the money] on whatev-
with the school board, through dren appeared to have no er you choose,” she said.
interviews and other means. problem remembering. Hardt thanked KENS 5 and
Before KENS 5 Reporter Bordelon then presented the SACU. She was also thankful of
Monique Bordelon presented “Golden Apple” trophy to the many teachers she worked
the trophy to Hardt
she first warmed
up the crowd,
which consisted of
$1,000 check from SACU and : the school’s stu-
CT.
the “Golden Apple” trophy.
dents.
“This award recognizes enjoyed
They all
them-
those teachers that are really selves answering
making a difference in the lives questions like how
of boys and girls today,” many fingers are in
■ Medina Valley Elementary School Teacher Valeria "Val" Hardt Superintendent Willard Murray the number five,
was presented the "Golden Apple" trophy by KENS 5 Reporter said. He explained the winner Bordelon let them
Monique Bordelon. A KENS cameraman filmed the event to air on had to first be nominated by know they would
the six o'clock news Thursday. (Photo by Adelina Gonzales) their peers on campus. Those
Council debates merits of seal coat
Val Hardt
*
Adelina Gonzales drafts by getting member input the city wouldn’t be maintain- Most agreed they should have
Staff Writer . before drafting the ordinance. ing the roads. curbs, at least in dense subdi-
Even though the county and The Semlingers had previ- Keller said the county was- vision areas, but curbs would
not the city would maintain ously come before city council n’t equipped to maintain hot conflict with county regula-
the extra territorial jurisdiction requesting a variance on the
property, as well as extended roads in Phase II of their subdi-
ETJ, Castroville spent most of vision located in the ETJ area.
mix streets.
Councilman
Michael
its time at Monday night’s sub-
They requested to use a
Masters said the hot mix
shouldn’t cause any problems
tions.
“The county will not take
over the roads if they have
curbs because they are in the
division ordinance workshop double coat of seal coat for the next 20 years and right of way,” Keller said.
discussing regulations on the
roads in those areas.
City Administrator Donna
Schueling, City Engineer Les
Harvey, Director of Public
Works Bruce Alexander, and
Precinct 1 Commissioner
Stanley Keller Jr., attended the
workshop along with the
Semlingers of Semlinger
Enterprises.
instead of hot mix, which
would put them in compliance
with the county which main-
tains the streets and is
equipped to handle seal coat
not hot mix roads. However,
the city maintained they must
use hot mix instead of seal
coat and wouldn’t grant the
variance.
asked fellow Councilman Leon Later he said curbs proba-
Tschirhart Sr. to corroborate bly wouldn’t be too much trou-
that since he lived in Country ble, but the sidewalks definite-
Village where the streets were ly would, and the county
paved with hot mix. However, wouldn’t repair them because
Tschirhart said his roads would
need maintenance within five
years or they would be in trou-
ble.
Ultimately, it was agreed the
Councilman Robert Hancock wanted to know whether one
said he thought there would be type of road was better than
Councilman James. Bell city would change the ordi-
it would be too expensive.
With the input received
from the workshop, Harvey will
begin work on a draft of the
new ordinance. He expects the
council to review everything at
nance from hot mix to double least two or three times before
a draft of a new ordinance to
address everything for them to
review that evening.
the other, if both were con-
coat seal coat, with the top
coat consisting of treated rock,
Alexander explained they than the other, they were just
were trying to circumvent hav- different.
ing the council review so many it was also brought up that
structed properly. Harvey said which would keep the gravel in
it wasn’t that one was better place.
#
Council members also
looked into whether curbs and
sidewalks should be required.
it’s finalized.
The Semlingers will have to
wait until the city checks with
legal counsel before they are
able to proceed with double
coat seal coat roads.
Hardt. The tro- with, who nominated her and
phy is made by also did a good job teaching
the company that themselves. Hardt also
makes the Oscar thanked the school board and
trophy for the administration for their sup-
Academy Awards port.
each year. On hand during the presen-
Former tation of the award were
Medina
student
Valley Hardt’s husband and two chil-
Lisa
Latham present-
dren. KENS took tours of the
other Medina Valley campuses
ed the $1,000 and spoke to Hardt’s class after
check to Hardt the ceremony.
T
Just MY TWO FRONT TEETH
| Jessika Street, 9, shares her Christmas list with Santa at Old
Fashioned Christmas. More photos on page 3. (Photo by Jeff Wilton
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Barnes, Thomas. News Bulletin (Castroville, Tex.), Vol. 42, No. 49, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 7, 2000, newspaper, December 7, 2000; Castroville, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1689382/m1/1/: accessed June 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Castroville Public Library.