Former aldermen settle with mayor out of court

Legal action against Clarendon Mayor Larry Hicks was resolved out of court this week when the city’s chief executive fulfilled terms of a settlement crafted at a court-ordered mediation last Thursday, October 9.

Three former members of the Board of Aldermen – Debbie Roberts-Hillis, Jesus Hernandez, and Tommy N. Hill – sued Hicks last November, listing several complaints against the mayor and requesting the district court remove him from office.

Eleven months after the suit was filed, the terms of mediation came down to one issue – the installation of an exterior elevator on the front of City Hall in 2012. The plaintiffs initially claimed the lift was installed without board approval. They later produced a report from A Home Elevator, Inc., that the elevator was basically obsolete and would be very costly to make operational.

Hillis and attorney Greg Freeman, representing the plaintiffs, attended the mediation last week and agreed to drop all action if Hicks would call a special meeting of the Board of Aldermen and recommend the elevator be removed. Hicks agreed, and a called meeting was held Monday afternoon.

During that meeting, Hicks made the required recommendation and also noted that the elevator had never been finished, that it was former city administrator Lambert Little’s project, and that nothing more had been done with it after Little was terminated in late 2012.

Hicks also noted that, under the terms of the settlement, he had to recommend the elevator be removed but said it was up to the board to decide what action to take.

The board discussed the elevator project. It was mentioned that the elevator was purchased from the City of Amarillo for $10 and the work so far to install it had cost about $2,000, and Hicks said removing it would probably cost about the same.

Alderman Doug Kidd said the complainants allegations were about actions taken while two of them were still serving on the board and noted specifically that the elevator project had been budgeted.

Hillis and Hernandez both resigned from the board in June 2013. Hill’s term as alderman expired in May of that year, and he lost his election bid that month to unseat Hicks as mayor.

Alderman John Lockhart said he had heard several complaints about the appearance of the elevator and that it was “an eyesore” on the front of City Hall.

Alderman Sandy Skelton said the elevator is currently not needed since there is no public space on the second floor of City Hall and said he thinks the current Board Room is adequate for public meetings and is handicapped accessible. He noted that the board can meet elsewhere, such as the Burton Memorial Library, if it needs more space.

“I would be in favor of getting rid of the whole thing and getting this behind us,” Skelton said.

The board then approved a motion to give Hicks the authority to have the lift and housing removed and to restore the building back to its appearance before the project was undertaken.