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Updated Thursday, November 05, 2009 9:38 PM
Howe city administrator resigns
BY MARY JANE FARMER
HERALD DEMOCRAT
HOWE -- City Administrator Michael Jones submitted his letter of resignation Wednesday to the Howe City Council after a closed meeting.
Jones has been city administrator for about one year, after more than three years of service as the city's mayor.
The Howe City Council agenda states that the executive, or closed, session was for the "evaluation and review and possible removal of city administrator." It then provided the same explanation for the vote taken once the council return to open session.
Howe Mayor Jeff Stanley said that Jones submitted his letter of resignation, and the vote that was taken was unanimous to accept it. All city council members were present, he said. Stanley declined to provide a copy of the letter.
Both Jones and Stanley denied this had anything to do with the previous actions of the city, through its mayor, which led to the city taking over the management of the Howe Fire Department.
Jones said he hoped to be able to make some changes within the city, and the council disagreed with those changes. He said he felt like it was counter-productive and the best thing he could do for the city was resign.
Stanley said the city will first go back through the resumes of people who applied for the job a year ago, when Jones was hired. The city will contact those applicants and possibly select a replacement.
If none who applied previously are still interested in the job, Jones said, the city will begin again to search for a city administrator.
 Comments ... 12 found!
This Guy : 11/18/2009
This guy was the Mayor and did a horrible job then, so goes to show you the lack of brains on the city councils part for hiring him to be the city administrator. Need to clean house on all the admin in this city including the PD, FD and city hall, start from scratch including the city council.
It's me again earl
Howe : 11/12/2009
Howe is no different than any other small town stuck in this country. It has it's political isues and most positions are held by persons not qualified for the position, thus you have people resigning and new people coming aboard each year. It is sad that in todays news a story such as this even gets printed in a newspaper. Herald Democrat find useful news to print, there are too many feel good stories that would be much better to read. Your readers would deeply appreciate those stories other than small town politics.
C'mon Man
Thanks for the memories... : 11/9/2009
Oh no, Ralphie...by all means, let's keep the comments. It's drivel such as this that reminds my why I left this area and never returned.
Biff
blame it on beer : 11/8/2009
Howe is one big trailer park.
punish the beer people
the mayor of w.w. : 11/7/2009
i am from white wright .and i know the mayor there. he is doing a fine job .there no situation in whitewright .you do not live there so you do not know what is going on there .
w.w
Why Herald Democrat? : 11/7/2009
Why this paper continues to provide a forum for people to post their inane comments is a wonder. Really Herald Democrat, get rid of this.
Ralph
RETRACT : 11/7/2009
When other leaders have to get involved it’s because plainly put the leaders of those organizations aren’t doing there jobs. People who makes comment like the one “SittingAtTheDockofTheBay” usually are people who r sitting in those positions themselves like the “fire departmet” and are disgruntled b/c things aren’t going their way. They don’t like being accountable & then when put on the spotlight – or when there boat get rocked – they become insecure and mad. Then they blame other people, who by the way had nothing to do with it, for there own MESS. What does this have to do with the mayor of whitwright anyway? Sounds like “SittingAtTheDockOfTheBay” has a personal vendetta and nothing more than a “unhappy” individual. If you feel you could do a better job then put up or shut up otherwise stick to the subject “howe”. What track r u on? As far as I know Whitewright is a model city for the other cities…..do you even know what goes on in your own town? Seems like you are on a one track mind - YOURS! Its sad that people like you cannot find anything better to do than criticise and tear down your own people. Like I said “Put up or SHUT UP” and stop your whining. Its just that simple. Become part of a solution rather than create problems and negativity. Negativity breeds contempt and as far as im concernd birds of a feather flock together and you’ll usually find them cooped all in the same cage and grouped with each others poop and mess. Now back to the subject. If the fire department or any department does its job then there should be no worries. I agree with Understand the org charts comment. If the city has to quote/unquote - “take over” its because they’ve taken a more participative role to help govern the behaivors/conduct/governmental protocols. Sometimes “self-governed” departments go astray and need mom and dad to oversee and put them back on track. But youll find that the “kids&bullies” who want there own way are afraid of someone taking there seat are usually the ones who kick, scream, and do all the fussing. But if you had kept your room cleaned in the first place, you wouldn’t be here. People go clean your house, car or something and leave the clean up to those who know what theyre doing. OR get in the track and be a constructive solution rather than chiggers on the people. People who really don’t have a clue in governmental knowledge & protocols usually have the biggest mouth. They never know the ALL the facts and info BUT WOULD SWEAR they do. It’s just like the student trying to tell there teachers and parents what to do.
RETRACT
: 11/6/2009
resign what ever hes lucky he got to do that one down one to go
council
Understand the org chart : 11/6/2009
Once again we have citizens and readers who do may not have all the information when making comments. The Howe situation probably had nothing to do with their fire dept. and it was other enduring and cumulative issues with council. As for Whitewright or any other volunteer fire department, a department is defined as "2. one of the principal branches of a governmental organization: the sanitation department." If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, its a duck. The fire dept. books and insured equipment (by the city) is pretty much no different than the library who has worker volunteers. It's still a department of the city. The bylaws cover the behavior/conduct/organization protocols of the volunteer workers, and those bylaws are submitted to council for the record. The fire dept.income/expenses in most cities are even placed with the city books, further solidifying the departmental status. When a city "takes over" a fire dept., perhaps they mean they are taking a more participative role in the management of personnel, training and conduct instead of letting them be self-governed in those areas.
YXKZ4
: 11/6/2009
Howe is as backwards and corrupt!! and they like that way! small town small minds absolutely no growth! now they will be small minded drunks cuz they're going wet..........all about the $$$
out of howe!
: 11/6/2009
Howe / Whitewight????? Where did that come from?
z4szn
Ditto : 11/6/2009
Sounds like the same situation going on in Whitewright. You have a mayor that sees what he wants to see - not reality of a situation. He needs to retire, resign or something and let the city council get this city back on track. Too many chiefs is stirring the pot and making a mess of a simple situation. Just wonderin------ how can a city take over a volunteer fire department when they have their own constitutional bylaws and funding?????? Comments?
SittingAtTheDockofTheBay
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