Mayor Derrick Freeman describes Port Arthur’s City Council chambers as a calmer place than in past administrations, courtesy of his three years presiding over meetings.

Time was, he said, pointing to previous administrations, contentious council meetings were punctuated by recesses to let emotions cool. That’s happened only once on his watch, he said, as he’s let personal remarks slide past him to keep meetings on track and he’s encouraged all councilmembers to have a voice.

Appearing on The Port Arthur News’ livestreamed newsmaker show Thursday — he’s the fifth of five mayoral candidates to visit — Freeman said showing and expecting respect for City Council peers has helped keep the meetings more harmonious.

“The city of Port Arthur voters sent you there,” he said of the seven councilmembers, which necessitates that all councilmembers treat each other respectfully.

Freeman also delivered a progress report for his first three-year term — mayors can only serve two consecutive terms — and said he was happy to run on his record. Post-Hurricane and Tropical Storm Harvey, he said, the city has been more aggressive this year in fixing potholes and paving streets and replacing decaying drainage lines. Infrastructure has been a front-burner issue for years.

The street department is pursuing completion of some $14 million in road projects in Fiscal Year 2019, and Freeman said an additional $3 million in federal funds has been added to that pot of money. That’s the most the city has invested in streets in 10 years. Pending good weather, the city may finish its list of damaged streets months early and initiating projects that had been listed for work next year.

He also said the city has taken on more road projects in house. He said that means Port Arthur is no longer at the mercy of contractors who delay road projects due to inclement weather.

Sewer problems, he said, have stemmed from aging lines that accompanied construction from the 1940s to the 1980s. Most of the city’s housing was building in those years, when clay pipes were prevalent.

He said an aggressive pipe-bursting crew, partially funded by industry, has helped replace old lines with lines made from more reliable materials.

Freeman said he expected councilmembers to select a city manager from among four finalists who were interviewed Feb. 27. But Dr. Hani Tohme, who has served as public services director, has left city employment this week — he’d served in a part-time role — because of potential contracts related to his private engineering company. Tohme remains one of four finalists for city manager.

Freeman compared the city manager role to that of a coach for the City Council, who, in an NFL comparison, would act more in the role of “owners.” He said the City Council will revisit the selection of a city manager next week.

Freeman also pointed to three issues that will be of key importance in the next three years. Those include:

• Negotiations on the city’s contract with Motiva refinery, which is nearing the end of its 15-year span. Motiva receives a “nice tax break,” Freeman said, and an experienced mayor is needed for new negotiations with the city’s largest taxpayer.
• The city needs a robust effort to effect an accurate Census 2020 count. The city must maintain a population of 50,000 residents to qualify for certain levels of federal programs.
• Hurricane and Tropical Storm Harvey recovery. Freeman said the city continues to deal with funding even from Hurricane Rita — in 2005. Encouraging faster delivery of federal aid is important, he said; he said he has developed state and national contacts to help the city recover from damages related to the storms.

The election is scheduled for May 4.