CITY OF NAVASOTA FORMS CITY MANAGER ADVISORY COMMITTEE AFTER LONE FINALIST WITHDRAWS FROM CONSIDERATION

  

The City of Navasota’s search for a new city manager has taken a turn after the lone finalist for the position removed his name from consideration.

Theo Melancon, formerly the city manager for the City of Dickinson, withdrew his application prior to Thursday’s city council’s meeting, where councilmembers were set to vote on the position.  Mayor Bert Miller said Melancon submitted written notice at 5 p.m. Thursday withdrawing his candidacy.

The debate on the city manager’s role has become a point of contention in recent weeks, with many residents appearing before the city council on Thursday and during a previous meeting on February 24^th to express concerns about the city’s selection method. 

That process was made more challenging after accusations of ethics violations were raised against former Navasota City Manager Jason Weeks by the American Association of Municipal Executives, and against Melancon by the independent organization Citizens to Keep Navasota Texas Great.

The International City/County Management Association (ICMA), of which Melancon and Weeks are both members, says it cannot confirm or deny receipt of any formal ethics complaint, as its process to determine if a party has committed an ethics violation is kept confidential.

After an executive session on Thursday, the council agreed to form a city manager advisory committee made up of 10 local residents, who will contribute to the city’s search efforts by providing feedback on candidates.