Port Arthur sets meeting to discuss city manager job
Published 9:24 am Saturday, February 23, 2019
By Ken Stickney
The Port Arthur City Council will push forward next week with its plan to hire a new city manager by March 17, scheduling a special meeting Wednesday during which they’ll discuss candidates in an executive session.
An agenda for the Wednesday meeting says the council will “deliberate the appointment of a city manager” during a morning session that will begin at 8:30 in the City Council chambers. That discussion will take place in what is listed as a “closed meeting” or executive session. The agenda cites Chapter 551 of the state Open Meetings Law as justification for the private session, most likely for Section 551.076 for personnel matters.
Councilmembers have narrowed their search to four candidates from 18 who submitted applications. Earlier, a city spokeswoman said there were at least 10 candidates but that number expanded as some candidates’ applications had to uploaded to the online application software.
Finalists include:
- Hani Tohme, a professional engineer, serves Port Arthur as director of public services. He joined the city last year as interim water utilities director.
- Natasha L. Henderson, a management consultant and former city administrator in Flint, Michigan.
- David Strahl, former city administrator for the city of O’Fallon, Missouri.
- Henrietta Turner, city manager in Floresville, Texas.
The City Council posted the position on several government and professional and in newspapers, including The Port Arthur News, on Dec. 6.
Its first review of candidates was scheduled for Jan. 22 and involved interim City Manager Harvey Robinson, who will leave his position after the permanent replacement is selected, and the city’s Human Resources Department.
Candidates were supposed to be pared to four finalists by Feb. 8, according to the initial schedule, with interviews to be scheduled between Feb. 27 and March 4.
The city released the names of the four finalists after a public records request by The Port Arthur News this week.
Robinson, a retired city administrator, has served as interim city manager since December 2017.