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Mayor addresses town manager situation
By Chris Roark, croark@starlocalnews.com
During Monday night's Flower Mound Town Council meeting, Mayor Tom Hayden addressed the ongoing situation involving Town Manager Harlan Jefferson.
Jefferson was placed on paid administrative leave on Sept. 22. Chuck Springer, the town's assistant town manager and chief financial officer, was named interim town manager that day.
Rumors have circulated about the reason for the move, including the problems various developers have had over the years in doing business in Flower Mound. Surveys filled out by area developers indicate a series of problems they have had with the town.
Monday, however, Hayden gave some insight to why Jefferson is on leave and what the mayor sees in the town's future.
"The council wants to make sure that we feel like we're in the situation where we can move forward and put FLower Mound in the best place to achieve our goals and objectives," Hayden said. "It's nothing personal about Mr. Jefferson. It's about looking at where we are. Nothing has been finalized. We are taking our time and the due process to go through everything to make sure we're addressing the issues."
Hayden addressed concerns he said several people have raised about what type of financial impact parting ways with Jefferson would have. Jefferson's contract is set to expire in 2015.
"I'm not sure what the financial impact will be," Hayden said. "Nothing has been decided. But if you look at the town's reserves today, which is over $9 million, I feel very confident in saying that a year from now, the town's reserves will be higher than they are today."
Jefferson became Flower Mound's town manager in 2006 after serving as chief financial officer.
During the public hearing portion of the Sept. 22 meeting, Jefferson’s attorney, Don Colleluori, said Jefferson understands that it is the council’s right to terminate his contract, but he said Jefferson had not been given the opportunity to address any concerns the council had of him.
Since then, sources have refuted that claim, citing several instances when Jefferson was aware of concerns. Among those were discussions at the town council strategic planning session and a council work session following the election in which the council outlined goals and discussed a desire to change the town’s direction in certain areas.
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
weirtalking wrote on Oct 4, 2012 12:39 PM:
" Area developers have had a problem with the town because we have a Master Plan and A SmartGrowth Program in place that was voted on by several past Councils. If the current Council wants to change those programs, they should be up front with residents and tell them that they want major changes in the programs that have made Flower Mound one of the most desirable places in the country to live. When national and regional magazines have us rated near the top of the list of towns in which residents are most satisfied, why is this council so determined to change things? The Town Manager's job is to enforce the rules that were put in place by the Council. It appears that Mr. Jefferson has been doing exactly that!! It also appears that the Council expects him to violate the rules and he has refused. However, as the latest legislative body in the town, the Council could simply change those rules. Then, Jefferson would enforce the new rules. Instead, they want to fire him for doing his job, and possibly cost taxpayers close to a million dollars. Is this what they call prudent fiscal management? Mr. Hayden says the town's reserves will be higher next year than they are today. Well, isn't it just possible that the reserves are as high as they are because we've had a Town Manager with the experience to budget wisely? Is this his reward for being a very able administrator? If this is nothing personal, as the mayor says, then it certainly is a bizarre type of reasoning. "
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