New leadership takes reins at City Hall

Hicks sworn in as Mayor of Clarendon; Pence new interim administrator

The City of Clarendon is under fresh leadership this week with a new mayor and a new interim administrator.

Larry Hicks was sworn in as the 37th mayor of Clarendon on Monday morning, and the same day Joe Pence of Wichita Falls came onboard to succeed Phyllis Jeffers as interim administrator.

Hicks had served about 1½ years as an alderman and was the city’s mayor pro-tem. Following former mayor Chris Ford’s resignation at last Tuesday’s called meeting, the Board of Aldermen deliberated in closed session and then elected Hicks to serve the remainder of Ford’s term, which expires next May.

As the Enterprise went to press, the board was meeting in another called session to discuss filling the alderman’s position formerly held by Hicks. The board also had on its agenda this week to ratify an agreement with Texas First Group – which employs Pence – to provide administrative services for the city.

Pence has 35 years of experience in municipal management, working in cities in Texas and Kansas and including a 16-year stint in Henrietta. He will be in City Hall on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, overseeing administrative duties as the board goes through the process of selecting a permanent city administrator.

“Finding an administrator for Clarendon may be a challenge,” Pence said. “You need someone who can hit the ground running, but you’re limited by what you can pay.”
Pence this week was familiarizing himself with the city and meeting with various civic leaders. He said he will likely be in his position for two months at the most.

In other city business, aldermen last week held a public hearing on the 2011 budget and fielded questions from the Enterprise about budget details; ratified the budget for the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation for 2011; renewed the tourism service contract with the Chamber of Commerce; and accepted a health insurance bid from First Care, which included a 10 percent decrease in premiums.