Port Arthur City Manager McDougal resigns from job
Published 8:19 pm Monday, November 13, 2017
The city of Port Arthur will be searching for another city manager.
After exiting executive session Mayor Derrick Freeman announced City Manager Brian McDougal submitted his resignation from the position at a special meeting of the Port Arthur City Council on Monday afternoon at city hall.
“We accept the resignation of Brian McDougal. He will be on administrative leave with pay until Nov. 21,” Freeman said. “Jimmie Johnson, assistant city manager, will serve as city manager until an interim city manager is appointed.”
The decision to accept McDougal’s resignation was unanimous by the city council.
The agenda item read the council was to discuss the duties, responsibilities, discipline, or dismissal of the city. Requested by (District 4) Councilmember Harold Doucet Sr.
“Pursuant to Texas Government Code 551.074 (b), the officer or employee who is the subject of deliberation of hearing, may require the government body to conduct an open meeting if the employee requests a public hearing. The city manager has requested that this provision be invoked. The items in executive session may be discussed and acted on in open session,” it read.
The city, furthermore, sent an email on Nov. 10 stating McDougal had requested the executive session to be discussed in open session. However, when the meeting started at 4 p.m., City Attorney Val Tizeno said she received correspondence on Nov. 9 saying proceedings were to be in closed executive session instead. They reconvened at 6:31 p.m.
McDougal said he knows people in the audience there to support him were disappointed it was done in closed session and it’s humbling of their support, but he thought it would be better to work things out in a business type manner.
“I’ve been here almost three years and we accomplished so much. Like I told the council, I live here too. I look forward and we enjoy living here and I mean it. I’ll work here,” he said.
McDougal said he has no plans to move or any prospects on new employment. He added that both parties had concerns about things in the city. Furthermore, it was a combination of things that occurred cumulatively over the past three years and things that happened this past year that led to his resignation.
“There were several issues and it was mutual on both sides,” he said. “The resignation came up mutually. I don’t want to stop the work that started in the city.”
McDougal said things never got to the point of him being fired and he works under a contract.
“There was nothing discussed ahead of time (about his resignation). It was all done today,” McDougal said. “Port Arthur has a bright future.”
Johnson said he will sit down with city council and work on a plan to meet the city’s goals.
“I’ve been working with Brian for three years very closely and he’s very good at being a professional. I’m kept in the loop in the city,” Johnson said.
Doucet there were nine votes on the council to accept McDougal’s resignation.
“It wasn’t just me that agreed upon this,” he said. “It’s not about me.”
He added that the council abided by the city manager’s agreement, he resigned, received his severance package and moved on.
When asked by media and residents why the meeting wasn’t held in the open Doucet said things of this nature in the State of Texas are held in closed session and the city manager requested a closed session.
Freeman said he was disappointed for the city, but he’s also ready to move the city forward.
“It was a mutual decision,” Freeman said. “I thought highly of Brian. He could get things done. Several councilmembers voiced their opinions.”
The next city manger hired will focus on Tropical Storm Harvey recovery, particularly housing needs and streets repairs.