The Bryan council on Tuesday is scheduled to again discuss City Manager David Watkins' employment contract behind a closed-door meeting, but this time the agenda includes debate over whether to discipline or dismiss the top administrator.
It was unclear late Friday, hours after the special meeting was posted, which council members asked for the issue to be put up for discussion. Two council members must support a topic being placed on an agenda.
The item, which is amended from the agenda of Wednesday's meeting, states the council will "deliberate the employment, evaluation, duties, discipline or dismissal of a public officer or employee: City Council to discuss matters related to the City Manager; and discuss possible modifications to the City Manager's compensation package."
Watkins said Friday evening that he's had little discussion with the council about the matter and isn't certain what's behind it. The wording of the agenda item, he said, leaves room for several changes in his role to be discussed.
Mayor Jason Bienski declined to say who asked for the agenda item, but said it's a continuation of planned discussions that the council didn't have time to finish in the meeting earlier in the week.
That meeting's agenda was heavy on matters relating to the city attorney giving a history lesson on Bryan Texas Utilities, which is city-owned and operated, but also up for discussion was Watkins' contract, talks about the Brazos Animal Shelter and a possible new development on the west side of town.
No action was taken during the 3 1/2-hour meeting; the city's attorney was ushered in and out of the room, as were Watkins and the city secretary, which is somewhat unusual.
What hasn't been answered by city officials is why Watkins' contract is even up for discussion seven months after the elected officials gave him a glowing performance evaluation, just as in the previous two years. According to his contract, he's supposed to be reviewed annually.
The issues between BTU and Watkins began when the city's top administrator started asking BTU General Manager Dan Wilkerson for access to the department's complete budget. Watkins said he reviews all detailed budgets from each department, with the exception of Wilkerson's.
After Watkins pressed the issue earlier this year, he said he received a summary budget that didn't provide detailed breakdowns like the others. The document he was given wouldn't allow him to see whether there were efficiencies that could be gained by combining BTU and other city-related services internally. Too, he said, the summary report doesn't break down salaries like each of the other departments.
He said he needs the information since he's in charge of putting together the city's overall budget, especially during tough economic times when everyone is being asked to cut back. BTU officials have said they may increase rates between 5 and 20 percent this fall.
Bienski said the dispute could stem from the fact that BTU has a different accounting and budget format than other city departments.
He said BTU has submitted a budget, but the format is not in line with that of other departments.
Under a resolution passed 11 years ago, BTU isn't required to make public its budget or salary information because the city might one day open up the local market so residents can chose where they buy power from, while also opening up BTU to sell outside this region. However, like the other 72 public utility companies in Texas, Bryan hasn't opted in.
Councilman Paul Madison said he didn't have a role in getting the item placed on Tuesday's agenda and has been pleased with Watkins' performance as city manager.
"The city manager has a right to request that information, and I think it's his prerogative to do so," he said. "From a legal perspective, David Watkins should be able to request whatever information he needs from any department."
Madison said in the near future, he'd like to schedule an open-forum meeting between BTU and the council that is open to the public to discuss more specifically the function of the utility department as it relates to the city.
Watkins' employment contract, signed in October 2006, requires the council give him written notice of its intent to terminate and the date of a hearing to be held in executive session at least 10 days before the hearing.
He said Friday he'd received no such notification from the city.
"I'm required by law to submit a budget and to be responsible for all the rules and regulations in the city of Bryan, and I have not been able to do that as it pertains to the electric department because I haven't gotten any information from the general manager," he said. "My job is to be as fiscally responsible as possible, and I need compliance to do that."
Attempts to contact other Bryan council members were unsuccessful Friday afternoon and evening.
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