Hondo Anvil Herald (Hondo, Tex.), Vol. 128, No. 49, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 7, 2000 Page: 4 of 52
fifty two pages : ill. ; page 25 x 15 in. Digitized from 35 mm. microfilm.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Page 4, The Hondo Anvil Herald, Thursday, December 7, 2000
CHAVEZ
CONTINUED FROM PAGE /
, revenue payments. We have one item
in arrears four months. It’s a major
airport-tenant and you don't tell us.”
Chavez defended his management
decision regarding Knight Aerospace.
‘The mayor and the mayor pro-tern
(Heyen) extended that lease while 1
was trying to stop them. I thought it
was better to have one bird in hand
than two in the bush and I thought we
could get a tenant who could be re-
lied on to pay his rent on time.”
Barden was forced to explain his
and Heyen's action after Heyen tried
to blame the problem with Knight
Aerospace on Chavez. "A major ten-
ant got four months behind in rent.
The mayor pro-tern and 1 met to set-
up scheduling of payments. The last
one is due Dec. 10.
“I am the one who thought it was
time to cut the strings with (Mr.
Knight). This gentleman's pay record
is abysmal because of the way his
business runs. In a business sense, we
have two options. In the meantime,
we have a contract and have to give
him benefits to come in good graces."
"I am here to advise council and
what they do beyond that is up to
them," Chavez explained to Heyen
Heyen said he was not
micromanaging Chavez but, if coun-
cil would receive a monthly memo,
they could be kept abreast of ongo-
ing issues in the city.
“If it was anyone else, their utili-
ties would have been cut off and
they’d have been charged for a
reconnection," said Councilman Ar-
turo Bamentes.
Chavez explained the extension
was given to Mr. Knight because he
employs numerous people who are
dependent on the building being
open. "But you do have a right to
know. I did tell the mayor we have a
situation and he said he wanted to
straighten it out and he had a meet-
ing with Mr Knight!'
"We still should have known," said
Bamentes The mayor told the coun-
cilman that Knight was involved in a
lawsuit, by no fault of his own, which
was causing his financial problems.
Heyen moved on to his number
two issue, the collection of the city’s
bad debts, and accused the city man-
ager of pot making enough progress
in its collection.
“The debts were here before I
came and I have done a lot to collect
them,” said Chavez. “In the past, we
did not take social security numbers
or Texas driver’s license numbers and
then we could not find the people
who skipped out.”
Heyen jumped to the beginning of
his list. “Number one, failure to in-
struct department heads of work to
be performed.”
Chavez said he agreed, but he saw
most of his employees on the job and
he held weekly department head
meetings every Tuesday. "There are
things that are behind but that is be-
cause of a lack of personnel and rain.
In my opinion, everyone is working
eight hours a day but we are not go-
ing as fast as we want to.”
Skipping to the end of his list,
Heyen said, “Number eight, making
statements to newspaper reporters
and not using good judgment. You’ve
been talked to about that Leave the
newspapers alone"
Chavez took exception to Heyen's
suggestion that his First Amendment
rights to free speech be curtailed. “I
have never called the newspapers and
my statements are protected by the
Constitution. It is bad judgment to
say someone cannot make state-
ments. The mayor came to talk to me
about things I've said in the newspa-
per and I have pulled back on that,
so council does not learn things from
the newspaper before hearing them
from me 1 keep the mayor informed
daily and I will make a stronger ef-
fort to keep council informed about
everything going on.”
Mayor Barden tried to diffuse the
implied threat of censorship in Heyen's
statement “None of us intended on
trampling your First Amendment
right,'' said Barden, who complimented
Chavez for his new restraint giving
comments to the press. The mayor sug-
gested Chavez be more explicit in dif-
ferentiating his city manager opinions
from his personal opinions.
Winkler then escalated the heat on
Chavez with what can only be char- to sue, let her sue.”
acterized as hearsay. “Like Mr.-*•< Mayw8ardenloldoouncilthat,as
Heyen, I don’t like doing this but I’ve
had phone calls from numerous em-
ployees. They don't want to give
their names for fear of their jobs.”
Winkler launched into a criticism
of Chavez’s management style and
accused him of being sexually inap-
propriate. “I hear you make sexual
innuendoes at department head meet-
ings every time. It makes the employ-
ees very uncomfortable and they are
afraid of repercussions.”
Trying to bolster her sexual dis-
crimination accusation, Winkler said
she heard Chavez hires males at $8
an hour because they work outside,
but the starting pay is only $7 for
inside jobs and those are all female.
“That could be discrimination,”
claimed Winkler.
The councilwoman relayed an-
other story she had been told about
an employee who saw something
happen, but was scared to tell Chavez
because she was afraid he might
scream and holler at her.
“You don't have the people skills
to be a city manager,” said Winkler.
“They say they fear coming to you.”
Winkler’s main concern was
Ibarra’s contemplation of a lawsuit
against the city. Winkler warned all
council members they would be li-
able as city representatives and en-
couraged Chavez to resign.
“This has been going on for over
a year,” Winkler said she was told.
"I could name ten names, but I won’t.
I ask for your resignation because
you put the City of Hondo at risk of
a lawsuit.”
Barrientes questioned Winkler’s
request for a resignation based on
hearsay alone. “Did you ask the city
manager? This is he-said-she-said
stuff,” said the councilman.
“She (Ibarra) came to me,” said
Winkler.
“Why not ask the city manager?”
asked Barrientes.
"I took it to the mayor,” she said
"It has gone through proper channels ”
Barrientes tried to bring some bal-
ance to Winkler's allegations. “There
are two sides to every story and any-
body can sue anybody. If she wants
an attorney, he defended employers
against charges of sexual harassment
and what was once harmless banter
is no longer acceptable.
“It is not four-letter words, but in-
nuendoes that shouldn't be said. It’s a
very sensitive area.”
Chavez had sat quietly listening to
the accusation until the mayor finished.
“This is why I requested an open
session,” said Chavez. “I thought
something would be brought up and
I wanted the public to hear every
word so I can defend myself. I don’t
often cuss and I am not going to re-
sign unless my council tells me to.”
Chavez said he doubted the valid-
ity of Winkler’s statements and
sources. “Her sources are my em-
ployees. I have been here one and a
half years and the employees know
they can come to me. If I said one
thing off-color, I would have stopped
if someone would have come to me.
Like Barrientes said, we should
know when things are not right.”
Chavez said no one has ever come
to him to say they were uncomfortable
during his department head meetings.
“If I was told I was doing that, I would
stop it. I don’t believe in revenge, but
I do believe in open session. The state-
ment that they fear for their job if they
come to me is ludicrous.”
Chavez said he would stand on his
integrity. “I cannot fix what I do not
know. It is simple dignity (for the
employee) to bring the problem to
me. I’m not unapproachable and I do
my job well. The first thing I did
when I got here was implement a
new employee pay scale because the
old one was unreliable and unfair. To
say I am someone to be feared is ri-
diculous. I will not resign until my
council tells me and I have the vote
of three council members."
Doug Rivers tried to give council
a semi-objective view of the benefits
of effective communication. “As the
new kid on the block, this is the first
time any of these allegations, except
for one, have been brought to my at-
tention. At least 95% of the problems
in life are communication problems.
If anyone understands what happens
when you exercise your First Amend-
ment rights, it is Cfoug Rivers.”
Rivers said the city needed docu-
mentation before taking any action
and suggested improving communi-
cations between the library staff and
all involved parties.
“If we are going to discipline any
employee, we need true and correct
documentation in place. I’m not for
or against (Chavez), but I will bend
over backwards to be fair,” he said.
Winkler conceded that she was re-
lying on phone calls and hearsay re-
garding Chavez’s management style.
“If you say it won't hurt, I will tell
them (employees) to come talk to
you,” said Winkler.
“How come (the employee) did not
go to the manager?” asked Barrientes.
"They’re not afraid of me,” said
Winkler.
Barrientes said he talked to Chavez
often to share his feelings and rec-
ommended Winkler, as a council
member, do the same. '
Councilwoman Carmen Hernan-
dez asked Winkler to slow down and
gather facts before jumping to con-
clusions. “I talk to David Chavez
every day. I would have to see accu-
sations and proof before I make any
decision.”
The mayor told council that Riv-
ers was correct about a need for
documentation. “Communication
goes both ways and I encourage
more formal communication from
him. Too many times we hear citi-
zens with second and third hand
complaints and we tend to believe
what people tell us.”
Barden suggested a formal evalua-
tion of Chavez be conducted consid-
ering he has been on the job around a
year and a half. “I’ll give each of you
an evaluation form designed for ex-
ecutive directors. I ask you each to
go through it and comment on our city
manager's strengths and weaknesses
and return with it to the next council
meeting,” said the mayor.
When Barden concluded the meet-
ing, the Chavez supporters in City
Hall gave a roaring round of applause
to the embattled city manager and his
defense of h is job in the open session.
Call Me First
for your Pre-Owned Car or Truck Purchase!
Joel Perez
Auto Buying Made Easy
Call Now!
2 1 0-724-2908
• Independent Broker •
EAA
CONTINUED FROM PAGE I
least,” said DeOtte. “We are just fight-
ing to keep up with demand now.”
The EAA is buying water rights
and retiring it, said DeOtte, but it
does not plan on reducing the two-
acre feet of water tied to each acre
of agricultural land. DeOtte believes
the city should hold on to the agri-
cultural water at the prison for fu-
ture use. “We have 639 acre-feet
available from 1,278 acres on the
prison, but we are waiting to use that
after the other options are explored.”
“The Medina County representa-
tives on the EAA said if you don’t
file a protest then you have no say
so in the future,” explained Mayor
Jim Barden. “They made that clear,
so that's why I put it in the agenda.”
Councilman Doug Rivers made
the motion to protest EAA’s reduc-
tion of Hondo's pumping permits.
Councilwoman Judy Winkler sec-
onded the motion, which passed by
unanimous vote.
In Other Business
• Taking care of personnel busi-
ness, council modified its policy re-
garding employees who must take
leave to participate in domestic mili-
tary exercises.
“It came to our attention we have
an employee in the Reserves or Na-
tional Guard,” said the mayor. “And
the only way for them to meet their
obligation is using unpaid leave or
vacation time. It is a hardship and
most organizations have a provision
saying they will supplement the
employee’s pay. That is what this
proposal would do.”
The mayor said the three options
were giving employees unpaid leave,
paid leave, or supplementing their
military salary to equal their foil pay.
Council chose to supplement the pay
for up to 20 days.
“Summer camp is usually 14 days.
Therefore, 20 days allows people a day
or so to prepare to leave and return,”
said City Treasurer Ronnie Rand.
For example, Rand said an em-
ployee earning $940 a pay period
from Hondo, who went to Reserves
or National Guard training and earned
the standard $600, would receive
$340 supplemental pay from the city.
Rivers explained the biggest prob-
lem for domestic military volunteers
aopM-a
More Stocking Stuffers!
The female dalmatian-mix on the left is about 15 mos.
old. She is friendly and would make a wonderful family pet.
The little lady on the right is about 10 wks. old and is a
black lab-mix. She is very sweet and wants a family to love.
Adoption cost is $15, which includes a rabies vaccination
and a registration tag for pets who will be living in town.
All adoptions are final and the animals will be adopted on
an “as is** basis. Animals featured in “Adopt-A-Perwill be
held for one week only.
The Hondo Anvil Herald and the Hondo Police Depart-
ment do not take animal donations. Animals featured are
animals that have been placed in the shelter and will be
destroyed if not adopted. Please do not dump your pet at
the shelter.
If you are Interested in adopting this weeks pet of the
week, please call Willie at 426-5353.
Hondo AAJtPnew,
The annual Christmas dinner and
meeting of Hondo AARP Chapter
#2543 was held on Saturday, Dec. 2
at 11 a.m. at McDowell School Caf-
eteria.
President John Graff opened the
meeting and gave the invocation.
Members said the Pledge of Alle-
giance and sang America.
President Graff welcomed 105
members and guests, Helen Ann
Jones, Juanita Archibald and Hope
Puckett.
Vice-president Robert Flores in-
troduced I 'avid Bendele who played
the accordion and invited everyone
to sing Christmas carols.
Committee reports were given,
after which Historian and past presi-
dent, Asell Clayton led the installa-
tion of elected officers of 2001.
Those installed were John L. Graff,
president; John Coyle, vice-presi-
dent; Grace Schmidt, treasurer; and,
Pye Haass, secretary; Loraine Miller,
Annie Bendele and Preston Moebius,
board members. Members of the
nominating committee are Laura
Wentz, Elsie Timmerman and Kate
Highsmith.
Members voted to have their do-
nations for gifts for needy children
again be handled by St. John’s
Church to help purchase and distrib-
ute the needed number of gifts.
Forty-eight members have signed
up for the AARP Driver’s Safety Pro-
gram to he held Thursday, Jan. 11,
2001, from 1 to 5 p.m., and Friday,
Jan. 12 from 8 a.m. to 12 noon; also,
Thursday, Feb. 8 from 1 to 5 p.m.,
and Friday, Feb. 9 from 8 a.m. to 12
noon. Members interested in taking
this program can contact Loraine
Miller 426-2482.
The next regular meeting will be
held Thursday, Jan. 4, 2001, at 10
a.m. at the Hondo Senior/Commu-
nity Center.
Edna Nietenhoefer brought an en-
trance prize which was won by
Preston Moebius.
President Graff thanked the cafete-
ria cooks, the meeting adjourned and
everyone enjoyed the delicious lunch
and accordion music.
was paying their insurance premiums
while at training. Rand told Rivers
if the employee did not have enough
comp tint pay for his family in-
surance, th«. rite the city a check.
“If we m u ’ the difference in
pay, that wi I u the insurance,”
said Councilman / , re Barrientes. 1
Rand said that m%. not be true
for employees on the lower end of
the pay scale.
Councilman Bob Heyen made the
motion to have the city cover the cost
of the difference between what the
military pays its weekend warriors
and what they earn in their regular
jobs. Barrientes seconded the motion
which passed by unanimous vote.
Supplementing pay to bring em-
ployees up to their regular wage
while on National Guard or Reserve
exercises is probably a good idea,
concluded Barden.
• Council unanimously reduced
the speed limit on 30th Street to 30
miles per hour within the school
zone. City Engineer Bob DeOtte re-
minded council it had recently
adopted a traffic plan for the school
zones. He told council members the
hours of the spefed reduction would
be the same as on Highway 90.
Councilman Doug Rivers asked
DeOtte what the Police Department’s
thoughts were regarding the plan.
“(Chief of Police) Don Berger
.works with us,” said DeOtte.
“People do 40 mph until they hit
the school zone, then they drop so they
need to be slowed down before they
get to the zone,” speculated Barden.
In response to questions from
Councilman Barrientes, DeOtte told
council the city had requested the
speed reduction and school buses are
routed down Avenue U while parents
were restricted to Avenue Q during
school-zone hours.
“The people at the school district
are pleased with the new traffic pat-
tern,” said DeOtte.
Councilwoman Judy Winkler
made the motion to regulate the
speed on 30th Street within the
school zone which was unanimously
accepted by council.
• Adell Jordan, Lupe Alvarez, and
Terry Teague were unanimously re-
appointed to the city's Parks Board.
“All have expressed an interest in be-
ing reappointed and we’ve had no
other applicants, even though it has
been in the newspaper,” said Barden.
“The Parks Board was very active at
one time. I hope they have occasion
to be more active in a year or so.”
• The next meeting of the Hondo
City Council will be Monday. Dec.
18, at 7 p.m. in City Hall. The public
is welcome to attend.
%• « * 4 '% * *
P
1
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Hondo Anvil Herald (Hondo, Tex.), Vol. 128, No. 49, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 7, 2000, newspaper, December 7, 2000; Hondo, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth818999/m1/4/: accessed June 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Hondo Public Library.