City council approves point of action plan for city manager, Tommy Gonzalez

After meeting for 5 1/2 hours behind closed doors, El Paso’s city council voted unanimously to approve a 13-point plan of action to address actions by City Manager Tommy Gonzalez and his staff and request information from former City Representative Larry Romero and former City Manager Joyce Wilson.

“We want to make sure we move forward and all the issues are brought forward, they are addressed and taken care of,” said Mayor Oscar Leeser.

The vote comes on the heels of an investigation conducted by ethics attorney Ross Fischer, which was released to the public and council on Thursday.

Here are some of the recommendations or changes council approved:

That the legal department be advised or consulted prior to any requests for qualifications or request for proposals.
Request city manager amend or correct all financial disclosures to provide details regarding consulting work and other sources of income, and that he fully disclose all consulting business and sources of income. According to Fischer’s report, council could ask Gonzalez for more details of income earned for speaking engagements. Under Texas law, public servants are only allowed to accept honoraria for food, lodging, and transportation if they attend conferences or speaking events. “Any deficiency in his filing could result in enforcement not only in El Paso but could also be enforced by either the Texas Ethics Commission, the Travis County District Attorney, or both,” the report states.
That the mayor send a letter to Larry Romero asking him to respond to ethics commission questions. Romero has declined to answer 60 questions sent by the commission. He told ABC-7 last week he had already provided the questions publicly live during ABC-7 Xtra and during a news conference.
Council also requested an invoice and proof of payment for tax services paid to Romero by Gonzalez.
Request the mayor also send a letter to former City Manager Joyce Wilson asking her to explain all of the events leading up to the delay in the issuance of the ballpark bonds and identify members involved in that decision.
According to Fischer’s report, Wilson declined to cooperate at the recommendation of her attorney.

Wilson, through her attorney, said that was not true, saying she ran out of time to meet with Fischer under his tight deadline.

-Request city employees cooperate with all law enforcement in ethics investigation. El Paso’s District Attorney Jaime Esparza confirmed last week he has asked the Texas Rangers for help reviewing the facts to determine whether any laws were violated.

Monday’s city council meeting will resume Tuesday at 9 a.m. Tommy Gonzalez, who was not present for Monday’s closed session, will be in attendance.

ABC-7’s Rick Cabrera spoke with Mayor Leeser about the performance plan to be discussed with Gonzalez and he asked if Gonzalez’s future was as much in his hands as it is in council’s.
“That is very accurate,” answered Leeser, “and council wants to talk and see how we can work together to improve the process, and make sure it’s a common process for both sides. So, that’s a very accurate statement.”