Jan 28, 2021 City Council

[CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:04]

>> NOW CALL THIS MEETING OF APPLE APPLE TO ORDER. IT IS 4:30 P.M. ON THIS DAY THE 28TH

[EXECUTIVE SESSION]

SO THAT WE COULD LEAVE THIS NATION A BETTER PLACE. BE WITH YOUR CITIZENS WHO HAVE BEEN DIRECTLY EFFECTED BY COVID VIRUS BY DEATH OR SERIOUS ILLNESS, PLEASE HELP THEM THROUGH THE DIFFICULT DAYS AHEAD. FATHER WE'RE ALWAYS GRATEFUL FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN IN THE FIRST RESPONDERS THAT PUT THEIR LIVES. WE ALSO ASK YOU TO PROTECT OUR NEW POLICE CHIEF IN ABILENE.

PLEASE DON'T EVER LET ANY OF US TAKE THEIR WORK FOR GRANTED IN YOUR NAME WE PRAY. AMEN.

>> WELL, THIS IS A HISTORIC DAY IN ABILENE, TEXAS AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT MORE IN JUST A BIT.

WE DO HAVE VERY SPECIAL GUESTS WITH US, IN FACT, THREE SPECIAL GUESTS, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF BULLDOGS, WE HAVE BELLA WILLS. AND WE HAVE AVIA WILLS ALONG WITH LEAH WILLS. WE'RE GOING TO ASK THEM TO PROVIDE IN LEADING US IN PLEDGES. TURN AROUND AS WE READ THE PLEDGES.

OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD,

INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL." >> NOW, THE TEXAS ONE.

>> "HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG: I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD AND

INDIVISIBLE." >> LET'S GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THEM COMING IN

[PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITIONS, PROCLAMATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS]

EVENING. (APPLAUSE) >> JANUARY IS NATIONAL MENTORING MONTH. WE WANT TO

RECOGNIZE OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS. >> ALL RIGHT. AND SO I WANT TO

[00:05:04]

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE. I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS AND THE WORK THAT YOU DO IN RECOGNIZES US. THE WORK THAT BIG BROTHERS AND SISTERS DOES IN ABILENE, WE BUILD AND SUPPORT ONE-ON-ONE RELATIONSHIPS TO UNITE THE BIGGEST POSSIBLE RELATIONSHIPS.

SOMEBODY THAT WAS A LITTLE OLDER AND HAD MORE EXPERIENCE TO YOU THAT HAD AN IMPACT OF WERE YOUR TODAY. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ABOUT. AND WE NEED BIGS, COVID HAS REALLY SORT OF DESTROYED OUR LUNCH BUDDIES PROGRAM. RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOUR A BIG IN THIS ROOM. THREE TO FOUR HOURS A MONTH IS ALL IT TAKES TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN SOMEBODY'S LIFE. SO I ENCOURAGE YOU, AND A MENTOR DOESN'T HAVE TO BE SOMEBODY THAT'S OLDER THAN YOU. I KNOW, I'VE LEARNED STUFF FROM PEOPLE YOUNGER THAN ME SOMETIMES, NOW THAT I'M AN OLD MAN. TODAY, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU REACH OUT TO SOMEBODY, SEND SOMEBODY A TEXT, GIVE SOMEBODY A CALL, SOMEBODY THAT INVESTED IN YOU EVEN FOR JUST A LITTLE BIT AND TELL THEM THAT YOU APPRECIATE THEM AND THEY HAD AN IMPACT ON YOU. THE COMMUNITY WE'RE SO DISCONNECTED AS A SOCIETY NOW, WE THINK WE'RE CONNECTED WITH SOCIAL MEDIA AND THAT'S DOING NOTHING BUT MAKING US MORE DISCONNECTED. I ENCOURAGE ALL OF Y'ALL TO PUT PERSONAL TIME INTO OUR RELATIONSHIPS IN OUR LIVES. WHETHER IT'S WITH BROTHERS AND

SISTERS. >> IF SOMEBODY WANTED TO BE A BIG, HOW DO THEY GO ABOUT DOING

THAT. >> YOU GO TO OUR WEBSITE, TEST WWW.BBBTX.ORG. IT'S KIND OF SCARY, YOU GO TO THE WEBSITE AND THE BUTTON SAYS VOLUNTEER, I WONDER IF PEOPLE DON'T CLICKEN THIS, BECAUSE IT MEANS IF I CLICK ON IT, I'M COMMITTING. THERE'S A LONG APPLICATION PROCESS. WHICH HAVE QUITE A ROBUST ONBOARDING PROCESS. CHILD SAFETY IS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. WE DON'T JUST MATCH YOU WITH THE NEXT KID WHOSE BEEN WAITING THE LONGEST. WE TRY TO MATCH YOU, LIAM'S BIG IS STANDING RIGHT HERE. WE REALLY TRY TO FACILITATE STRONG CONNECTIONS, LIKES, AND HOBBIES, AND THINGS LIKE THAT. MY LITTLE BROTHER IS IN 7TH GRADE AND PLAYING SPORTS AND HE'S LIKE STARTING TO WORK OUT AND I GET TO HELP HIM LIFT WEIGHTS AND DO ALL THOSE THINGS. YOU HAVE TO MOLD YOUR MOUTH PIECE, YOU HAVE TO BOIL IT AND PUT IT IN WATER.

I GOT TO DO THAT WITH MY LITTLE BROTHER, TEACH HIM HOW DO THOSE THINGS. IT'S THE TIME AND

CONSISTENCY FOR THE KIDS IT'S AN IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

[00:10:08]

>> NOW IT'S TIME FOR ANOTHER PHOTO OP. >> WE NOW MOVE TO THE CONSENT

[CONSENT AGENDA]

>> ITEM 4 ITEM 5. >> ANY COUNCILMEMBER WANT TO PULL ANYTHING OFF THE CONSENT

AGENDA THIS EVENING? >> ANY CITIZEN HAS HAS REQUESTED TO PULL MY ITEMS 3-12

AND TALK ABOUT THEM SEPARATELY. >> SEEING THAT ALL ACCEPT MOTION FOR ITEMS 3-TWELVE WITH

EXCEPTION OF NUMBER 5. >> SO MOVED. >> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?

WE'RE READY TO VOTE. >> MOTION CARRIES. >> >> WE'LL NOW MOVE TO OUR NUMBER

[5. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Confirming the Appointment of an Interim Police Chief (Robert Hanna)]

>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL, THE REASON I WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT FIVE IS IT'S KIND OF LIKE, A DOLLAR LATE A DOLLAR SHORT AND A DAY LATE. I MEAN, IT SAYS THIS IS THE ITEM THAT GOES BACK TO THE 15TH OF NOVEMBER AND NOW WE'RE TWO MONTHS AND TWO WEEKS LATER. SO I'M SURE THERE'S OTHER CITIZENS WATCHING IN TV LAND THAT WANTS TO KNOW WHY YOU'RE DOING THIS NOW FOR THIS INTERIM CHIEF AND I MENTIONED BACK IN THE MEETING WHEN STAN SAID HE WAS LEAVING ARE THAT THE INTERIM CHIEF WOULD DREW STAN'S PAY AS ACTING CHIEF. AND I WOULD HOPE THIS WAS SOME KIND OF HOUSEKEEPING DEAL BUT IT SEEMS ODD YOU DO NUMBER FIVE AND DOWN ON ITEM 14, YOU'RE SWEARING IN YOUR NEW CHIEF. SO I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE GOING TO NEED JOHN ROBERTS HERE OR NOT, AND FOR THE PEOPLE OUT THERE IN TV LAND, WHO DON'T KNOW WHO JOHN ROBERTS IS, THAT'S THE CHIEF JUSTICE.

THAT'S ALL I HAD, I JUST WANTED TO HAVE SOMEBODY EXPLAIN TO THE CITIZENS OUT HERE WHY YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN TWO MONTHS AND TWO WEEKS AGO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH THIS

EVENING. >> I'M GOING TO ALLOW OUR CEO TO RESPOND TO THAT.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. REALLY, THERE'S A QUESTION OF WETHER OR NOT THIS IS NECESSARY. WE'RE DOING IT AS A PREVERBIAL BELT AND SUSPENDERS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IN THE EVENT IT WAS, SOMEBODY CANNOT COME AND SAY YOU DIDN'T DO THIS. AND WE'RE DOING IT AT THE ADVICE OF OUR CITY ATTORNEY. THAT'S THE REASON IT'S ON THE CITY AGENDA.

>> THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING, DOES ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM. IF

SO, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. >> SO, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARINGS. COUNCILMEMBER HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER PRICE, A SECOND

BY COUNCILMEMBER MCALISTER. WE'RE READY TO VOTE. >> MOTION CARRIES. >>

>> AND BY THE WAY WE'RE ABSENCE OF CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS, WE'LL HAVE CHRIS HOBBS.

[13. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Confirming the Appointment of Marcus Dudley as the Police Chief of the Abilene Police Department (Robert Hanna)]

[00:15:05]

>> WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ITEM NUMBER 13. >> THANK YOU MAYOR, I WAS GOING TO GIVE A BRIEF BYIO AND SYNOPSIS OF OUR NEW POLICE CHIEF BUT LAST EVENING I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM A GENTLEMAN NAMED NICK METS, AND NICK IS ONE OF CHIEF DUDLY'S FORMER SUPERVISORS AND I'D LIKE TO READ IT BECAUSE I THINK IS SPEAKING VOLUMES AS A CHARACTER AS A MAN AND HELP THE

COMMUNITY UNDERSTAND WHO WE HAVE AS ACHIEVE. >> BY WAY OF INTRODUCTION, MY NAME IS NICK METS AND I RETIRED AS CHIEF OF POLICE IN DECEMBER OF 2019. I HAD THE GREAT HONOR AND PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH MARCUS DUDLEY. I'M INCREDIBLY SAD THAT I'M NOT ABLE TO BE WITH ALL OF YOU TODAY TO CELEBRATE THIS MOW MEANTOUS. MANY OF INSIDE THE DEPARTMENT AND THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY ENCOURAGED ME TO MEET HIM AS SOON AS I COULD, AND IN A FEW DAYS HE AND I MET FOR COFFEE. AND WITHIN AN HOUR I WAS ABLE TO TELL THIS WAS A YOUNG MAN WHO CARED GREATLY ABOUT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE EMPLOYEES HE SERVED EVERYDAY. HIS ETHICS AND PROFESSIONALISM WAS BEYOND REPROACH. WORKING DIRECTLY WITH ME AND THE CHIEF'S OFFICE. HE QUICKLY INSTITUTED STRATEGIES LACED WITH INNOVATION AND PROFESSIONALISM WHICH WAS GREATLY NEEDED THROUGHOUT THE AGENCY. IDEAS THAT QUICKLY AND POSITIVELY IMPACTED THE EMPLOYEES AND THE COMMUNITY. HIS WILLINGNESS AND ABILITY TO SPEAK DIRECTLY FOR HOW TO BETTER SERVE OUR STAKE HOLDER, AND TO STAND UP FOR WHAT HE MEANT WAS RIGHT. ABOUT A YEAR LATER I HAD THE HONOR TO PROMOTE MARCUS DUDLEY TO RANK COMMANDER. HE WAS PLACED IN THESE ASSIGNMENTS BECAUSE HE HAD EARNED A REPRESENTATION FOR MAKING SUCH ENTITIES BETTER THAN HE HAD FOUND IT. THAT EARNED HIM THE TRUST AND RESPECT OF COMMUNITY, AND CO-WORKERS. MR. HANNA, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU. THIS IS NO DOUBT, THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT YOU HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR YOUR NEW CHIEF AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. I HAVE EVER CONFIDENCE THAT YOU CHOSE THE RIGHT PERSON TO ADVANCE THE MISSION AND VISION OF OUR CITY AND YOU COULD BE SURE THAT MARCUS DUDLEY WOULD NEVER SELFISHLY, MORE THAN SELFLESS ME. RESPONSIBILITIES THAT LIE AHEAD. THE RESPONSIBILITIES AND PRESSURES WE MANY, OFTEN TIMES UNPREDICTABLE. AND THAT SAID, PLEASE KEEP A FEW THINGS IN MIND. YOUR FAMILY HAVE SUPPORTED YOU IMMENSELY THROUGHOUT YOUR JOURNEY. THEY WERE WITH YOU WHEN IT BEGAN AND THEY WILL BE THERE WHEN IT ENDS.

YOU OWE THEM BIG, REALLY BIG, MAKE SURE YOU SPEND THE REST OF YOUR DAYS MAKING UP FOR THEM.

THE COMMUNITY'S TRUST AND RESPECT BALANCES AND WALKS DELICATELY ON A TIGHT ROPE. THE OFFICERS AND STAFF OF APD AND THEIR FAMILIES WILL ALWAYS NEED YOUR ACCESSIBLE AND APPROACHBLE LEADERSHIP. YOUR SUPPORT AND WILLINGNESS TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE. THEIR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS TO END EACH SHIFT PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY. YOUR JOB IS ABOUT PEOPLE. AND AS YOU PONDER THIS IMPORTANT MISSION, I LEAVE YOU WITH THIS QUOTE THAT YOU'VE HAD TO ENDURE MANY TIMES WHEN WE WORKED TOGETHER. AND I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE YOU HEAR IT ONE MORE TIME. PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER WHAT YOU SAID AND THEY MAY NOT REMEMBER WHAT YOU DID, BUT THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL AND THIS EPITOMIZES HOW YOU MUST WORK WITH YOUR COMMUNITY, AND YOUR EMPLOYERS AND YOUR CITY LEADERS. I WAS PROUD TO HAVE YOU AS A CO-WORKER. I WOULD

[00:20:06]

DUDLEY. >> I THINK ROB IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE IF YOU WOULD TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS OF HOW WE GOT TO THIS POINT, THE COMMITTEE THAT YOU FORMED AND IF THEY'RE HERE TODAY, PROVIDE RECOGNITION FOR THEM AND THEIR CONTRIBUTION. AND WE WILL HAVE A PUBLIC

HEARING. >> MAYOR, I ENGAGE ADD GROUP OF POLICE OFFICERS AND I ENGAGE ADD GROUP OF CITIZENS TO ASSIST AND IDENTIFYING AND COMBING THROUGH A STACK OF VERY WELL QUALIFIED RESUMES. SO IF YOU WERE ON THAT COMMITTEE, STAND UP AND BE RECOGNIZED. FORMER CHIEF MELVIN IS HERE. THE COMMITTEE WORKED HARD IT WAS CLEAR WE CAME DOWN TO THREE CANDIDATES. AT THE END OF THE PROCESS MARCUS DUDLEY WAS THE MOST QUALIFIED PERSON FOR THE JOB AND IT WAS MY PLEASURE TO EXTEND THAT OFFER TO HIM. CHIEF MARTIN, WOULD YOU MIND COMING UP AND SHARING SOME OF

THE PROCESSES WE USED IN THE SEARCH. >> THANK YOU, ROBERT. I WILL DO THAT VERY SHORT. WE HAD QUITE A PROCESS AND WHO WE USED TO HELP US WITH THAT PROCESS MADE A STATEMENT THAT THIS WAS THE BEST PROCESS HE HAD EVER SEEN IN A SELECTION PROCESS. WE WERE VERY BLESSED TO HAVE FIVE REALLY GREAT FINALISTS AND WE BROKE IT DOWN TO THREE. AND WE HAD THREE VERY GOOD FINALISTS. THEN WE KEPT LOOKING AT MARCUS DUDLEY. AND, FINALLY WE ALL AGREED THAT MARCUS DUDLEY WAS OUR MAN. HE DID QUITE A JOB IN AURORA. HE IS JUST GOING TO BE OUTSTANDING. HE AND I HAVE GOTTEN TO BE GOOD FRIENDS. I HAVE HEARD SUCH GOOD THINGS FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ALREADY ABOUT WHAT HE IS DOING. THE CITY OF ABELINE IS VERY LUCKY TO HAVE THIS MAN LEAD OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. HE WILL BE AWESOME FOR THE CITY.

>> THE LAST 64 YEARS, WE'VE HAD FOUR CHIEFS, MELVIN MARTIN BEING ONE. WE'VE HAD WARREN DOTSON, MELVIN AND STAN STANRICH. MOST OF YOU ARE AWARE OF OUR COUNTRY AND THE RHETORIC THAT HAS OCCURRED FROM COAST TO COAST. ABILENE'S BEEN VERY FORTUNATE. NOT THAT WE'RE ABSENT OF SOME OF THOSE CHALLENGES, IT'S NOT THAT WE DON'T HAVE SOME OF THOSE ISSUES HERE, BUT WE'VE DONE BETTER THAN MOST BECAUSE WE'VE HAD GREAT LEADERSHIP. MR. HANNA, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE WAY YOU ENGAGED THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY IN PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROCESS. CHIEF, I WANT TO THANK YOU YOUR 40 YEARS OF SERVICE OFFICIALLY IN THE LAST DECADE AND-A-HALF CONTINUING TO WORK IN THIS COMMUNITY. ABILENE'S A VERY, VERY, SPECIAL PLACE AND IT'S VERY SPECIAL BECAUSE OF THE RELATIONSHIP WE HAVE IN DIFFERENT SECTORS AT THE FOREFRONT, IT IS YOUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. I'M SO PROUD TO CALL ABILENE HOME. AND I'M PROUD THAT WE'VE SELECTED A PROFESSIONAL THAT CONTINUES THE LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP TO LEAD OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN BLUE. AND SO, I WILL GIVE WAY TO COUNCIL TO PROVIDE ANY COMMENTS THEY MAY WANT TO MAKE. WE'LL HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING, AND THEN WE'LL PROCEED WITH THIS AGENDA ITEM. DOES COUCOUNCIL HAS ANYTHING TH

WANT TO INCLUDE THIS EVENING? >> I ONLY MET MARCUS DUDLEY AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE AND OUTSIDE JUST BEFORE THE MEETING. BUT I'VE HEARD MANY THINGS ABOUT HIM AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT HIM STEPPING INTO THIS ROLE AND I P APPRECIATE YOU READING THAT LETTER, FROM HIS FORMER CHIEF WHEN HE WAS IN AURORA, JUST SOLIDIFIES, THE MESSAGES I HEARD AND I KNOW THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS WERE VERY SOLID IN REPRESENTING NOT ONLY THE P.D. BUT THE COMMUNITY AND THEIR SUPPORT AND THEIR DECISION IN BRINGING THAT TO YOU AS A RECOMMENDATION. ALL THOSE THINGS JUST SPEAK VERY

[00:25:04]

CAN ACCOMPLISH WITH HIM IN THE CHIEF OF POLICE ROLE. >> THANK YOU. ANY COMMENTS

PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC HEARING? >> I JUST WANT TO THANK THE COMMITTEE AND THEIR WORK. I KNOW THEY SPENT MANY HOURS AND THEY'RE VERY GOOD CITIZENS AND I'M APPRECIATIVE OF THAT. I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING CHEF DUDLEY LAST WEEK AND LOOKING FORWARD TO HE AND HIS FAMILY GETTING HERE AND PUTTING IN DEEP ROOTS IN THE CITY AND I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ON THE COUNCIL, IF THERE'S A PROBLEM, WE HEAR ABOUT IT. AND I WILL SAY AND I CAN'T SPEAK FOR ANYBODY BUT ME. I'VE NOT HEARD ANYBODY IN ALL THIS PROCESS COME TO ME WITH A CONCERN ABOUT THE PROCESS WHO IS MAKING THE DECISIONS, AND THE FINAL DECISION OF CHIEF DUDLEY. I HAVE NOT HAD ON OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT WITH CHIEF EXCEPT AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE. I KNOW CHIEF YOUR EXCITED, SAYING A.P.E.D. FROM AROARIA AND A.P.A.D. HERE.

IF YOU MAKE A MISTAKE, NO ONE WILL KNOW. I HOPE THEY GET TO MOVE HERE QUICKLY. I DO THINK CHIEF MARTIN AND THE REST OF THE COMMITTEE THAT WORKED SO HARD TO BRING HIM AND REALLY EXCITED

ABOUT ALL OF THIS. >> COUNCIL PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC HEARING.

>> I'LL SAY SOMETHING BRIEFLY. I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR MARCUS DUDLEY'S FAMILY. I KNOW MARCUS.

I KNOW I'M SO THANKFUL TO YOUR FAMILY. I HOPE WE CAN LOVE AND SURROUND MARCUS IN A WAY. IT'S MY PRAYER FOR YOU AND THIS COMMUNITY TO LEAN INTO THAT IN A WAY THAT ISN'T A TRANSACTIONAL TYPE OF LEADERSHIP BUT TRANSATIONAL TYPE OF LEADERSHIP. FAMILY, WE'RE GRATEFUL THAT YOU GUYS SAID YES TO OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL. AND WHATEVER WE COULD DO TO LOVE ON YOU GUYS, PLEASE

DON'T HESITATE TO LET US KNOW. >> I JUST WANT TO GIVE A WARNING TO MARCUS TO THINK VERY CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU GET SWORN IN BECAUSE ONCE YOUR SWORN IN YOU'RE PART OF US AND THERE'S NO

GETTING OUT OF IT BECAUSE YOU'RE PART OF THE ABILENE FAMILY. >> ANYMORE COMMENTS PRIOR TO

THE PUBLIC HEARING? >> AT THIS TIME. I WOULD OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST, IF SO, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. AND AS THOSE WHO MAY WANT TO DISSIPATE, I WANT TO ENCOURAGE, ONE KINGDOM HAS BEEN SO PIVOTAL IN INVESTING IN OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY. SO I DO SEE, SCOTT BEARD. AS WELL AS JOY, SO THE PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN FOR EVERYONE. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A NUDGE TO YOU INDIVIDUALS TO PARTICIPATE TODAY IF YOU CHOOSE TO.

>> HI, MAY NAME IS CHUCK FERENA. HE WAS MY PRIVILEGE TO WORK CLOSELY WITH STAN AND SUPPORT HIM IN PRAYER. ON BEHALF OF ONE KINGDOM I JUST WANT TO SAY WE'RE PRAYING FOR

[00:30:05]

THANKS FOR COMING. >> ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS

ITEM? >> SEEING NO ONE. I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. DOES COUNCIL HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS AND OR COMMENTS ON TODAY?

>> MOVE FOR APPROVAL? >> WE HAVE A MOTION BY MAYOR PRO-TEM SHANE PRICE AND A SECOND

BY COUNCILMEMBER WALL WE WILL DONE HURT. >> MOTION CARRIES. >>

[14. Oath of Office for Chief Marcus Dudley]

. >> WE'LL ASK CHIEF DUDLEY TO COME TO THE FOREFRONT AND

PROVIDE THE CHIEF'S OATH. >> THIS WOULD BE A GREAT PHOTO OP BY THE WAY, I'LL TELL YOU.

>> (LAUGH). >> RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME.

>> I, MARCUS DUDLEY JR. SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES AS A PEACE OFFICER FOR THE CITY OF ABELINE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THIS

STATE SO HELP ME GOD. CONGRATULATIONS. >> (APPLAUSE)

>> WELL, CHIEF YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING TO THE COMMUNITY?

>> I'M SURE WE CAN GIVE YOU A MIC SO WE COULD. >> SO TO BEGIN WITH, FIRST I WANT TO THANK MY LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST AND THE WARMTH AND EXPERIENCE I HAVE HAD SINCE BEING NAMED THE ABILENE CITY CHIEF OF POLICE. SHORT TIME. I ALREADY FEEL LIKE I'M PART OF THE FAMILY. THAT FEELING COMES FROM KNOWING THE WOMEN AND THE MEN THAT SERVE ON THE ABILENE POLICE DEPARTMENT. BUT IT ALSO COMES FROM TIMES LIKE WHEN YOU GET NOTIFIED FROM YOUR FAMILY THAT THEY'RE HAVING TO BE QUARANTINED FOR COVID AND THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO GO TO SCHOOL OR TO CATCH A FLIGHT TO JOIN ME FOR THIS OCCASION. AND YOU FEEL LIKE THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THAT YEAR GOING TO GO THROUGH THIS MOMENT ALONE. AND YOU HEAR THE KIND WORDS SPOKEN BY SOMEONE.

YOU HEAR THE KIND WORDS OF THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMUNITY OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND YOU SEE ALL THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM AND YOU KNOW THAT YOU DO HAVE A FAMILY. AND YOU DO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS TO BE IN ABILENE. I THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. I WON'T LET YOU DOWN. I HOLD MYSELF TO A HIGH STANDARD AND THE PEOPLE I WORK ALONG SIDE WITH AS WELL. SO

THANK YOU. (APPLAUSE) >> WE'LL NOW MOVE TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. THERE'LL BE NO

[PUBLIC COMMENTS]

THE CITY OFFICIALS AND STAFF. >> DAVID SCHWARTS. >> THANK YOU COUNCIL AND MAYOR,

[00:35:04]

LISTENING TO ALL THIS. >> FOR THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, DOES ANYONE WANT TO

PARTICIPATE THIS EVENING IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD? >> I'M SAMMY GARCIA, I'M HERE TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE D.C.O.A., THERE'S A LOT MORE RECEIPTS THAT I FOUND THAT THE TAXPAYERS MONEY IS BEING USED TO PAY TO FEED ON ADALE BASIS, THE D.C.O.A. STAFF AND I FORGOT THE RECEIPT TODAY THAT HAD ON DECEMBER THE 4TH. JUST A LITTLE OVER A MONTH AGO THAT EVEN, THE D.C.O.A.'S CEO AND OUR CITY MANAGER ARE DINING ON THE TAX DOLLAR, AND NOT ONLY THAT, THEY'RE NOT EVENING DINING IN ABILENE. THE RECEIPT SHOWS BUFF GAP. I DON'T BLAME THE CITY MANAGER, I LIKE THE GUY, I THINK HE'S GREAT, I DO. I BLAME THE PERSON THAT HAS THAT CARD AND SWIPING IT ALL THE TIME.

THERE ARE SO MANY EXAMPLES, THE ONE THAT REALLY MADE ME MAD TODAY WAS THE RECEIPT FROM LANDS END OVER $1,100 FOR ATTIRE TO WEAR. THAT'S GREAT, WHY DON'T YOU SPEND IT ON AN ABILENE BUSINESS. WE SPENT $1,100 IN OCTOBER TO WISCONSIN, DIDN'T EVEN KEEP IT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. $1,100 FOR 17 PIECES OF CLOTHING. HOW MANY OF YOU IN THE CITY GET TO SPEND $1,100 FOR A DEPARTMENT AND THEN HAVE THE NERVE TO SEND THAT MONEY OUT OF STATE. WHEN WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC. WHEN WE HAVE PEOPLE IN BREAD LINES? WHEN WE'RE CUTTING CITY BUDGETS? BUT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO IGNORE IT. THE D.C.O.A. BOARD WILL CONTINUE TO NOT BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

[00:40:08]

ABOUT QUOTAS. THANK YOU. >> WE'RE STILL IN PUBLIC COMMENT. DOES ANYONE WANT TO SAY ANYTHING. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC PERIOD. IT IS 6:11 P.M., AND THIS MEETING

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.