Boldt back at city hall Soon-to-be official allegedly holds brief meeting before new contract is signed By: Jim Williamson - Texarkana Gazette A meeting between some city of Texarkana, Ark., employees and Harold Boldt appears to have been conducted Friday morning, even though Boldt hasn’t signed an employment contract. Several board members say they don’t believe Boldt should be meeting with employees until a contract is in place. During a Texarkana, Ark., Board of Directors meeting Thursday, Boldt was rehired by a 4-2 vote. On Friday, Boldt met with some of the employees in the second-floor finance office for at least 20 minutes. After coming out of the office, he declined to speak to members of the media. But when contacted Friday, the majority of the city board members said Boldt shouldn’t have conducted a meeting with employees until an employment contract has been signed and approved by the board. “One of the issues that hasn’t been settled regarding his returning to employment, is a lump sum of $79,500 paid to Harold Boldt. It was a mutual release of claims. Basically it was a severance package,” said Wad 4 Director Chad Dowd, who voted against rehiring Boldt at Thursday’s meeting. “It’s like an elephant in the room. It’s there, but nobody wants to talk about it. The first thing that should happen is he needs to write a check to us, the citizens as a whole. Everybody that’s got a child, it’s their money.” “This is something that bothers me starting out this way ... ,” Dowd said. In July, the board approved a total $162,000 settlement for Boldt. After accepting the settlement, Boldt reapplied for his job as city manager but was not initially selected by the board as a finalist. He has received a payment of $79,500. Ward 1 Director Ruth Penney Davis described the meeting Friday “as another snub at the city council.” She was the second dissenting vote against Boldt’s rehiring at Thursday’s meeting. Before Boldt can return as city manager, his contract must be revised and reviewed by the board, Davis said. The contract should include how much Boldt should be paid and require him to pay back his severance package. “It’s all got to be resolved for him to come back and assume the position as head of the city. It was clear he was not to be rehired until the contract is worked up and redrafted and he is sworn in. It’s ill advised for him to come back until those steps are taken,” Davis said. “It appears he is thumbing his nose at the process again,” she said. Davis said city government will improve as the public becomes more aware of the process. “Citizens have become aware of city government. They’re passionate and eager to voice opinions. That is always a plus for government. People want good government by the people and not by the few,” Davis said. Ward 5 Director Mike Jones, who voted in favor of rehiring Boldt, also agreed Boldt shouldn’t be meeting with city employees until his contract is ratified. “He is not a city employee until his contract is ratified by the board and signed by him. At that point, he is employed,” Jones said. Ward 3 Director Londell Williams had no comment about the meeting between Boldt and some of the city staff. Ward 6 Director Sue Johnson did not return a phone call. Ward 2 Director Laney Harris’ voice mail was full and no contact was made Friday. Williams, Johnson and Harris all voted in favor of rehiring Boldt. City of Texarkana, Ark. Attorney George Matteson declined comment about the employment contract and the meeting Boldt had with city staff. At the beginning of Thursday’s meeting, Penney Davis stressed she wanted any written form of a contract prepared by Boldt or anyone else to be moved off the table and not voted upon because the directors needed to vote on the final contract. Jones said Thursday he had not read a contract regarding Boldt’s employment. The vote to take the contract out of consideration won board approval, and the final contract will be the next hurdle the board will tackle before Boldt returns to his duties as city manager. Boldt’s first day in his second stint as city manager will be determined by the contract. The contract will be worked on by city attorney George Matteson, interim City Manager Jessica Hyman and Boldt, but the board will have final approval. Jones said the board would not be able to hire Boldt without approving a contract. Mayor Wayne Smith was out of town and could not attend Thursday’s meeting. Jones, who is the assistant mayor, said Smith called him to tell him he wanted the record to reflect his vote was a no. Smith’s vote was not officially counted because he did not attend the meeting. After learning of the vote to rehire Boldt at Thursday’s meeting, Smith said he wanted to make sure the contract was clear that Boldt would not receive a long-term contract with the city based on his past performance. “Absolutely no more than a one-year contract,” Smith said. Published: 09/08/2013 texarkanagazette/news/2013/09/08/boldt-back-at-city-hall-206168.php
Posted on: Sun, 08 Sep 2013 04:45:09 +0000
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