Jeffers returns as interim city administrator

The City of Clarendon is back under the direction a familiar leader following a called meeting of the Board of Aldermen last Thursday, April 1.

Mayor Chris Ford said Phyllis Jeffers with the Texas First Group will serve as the interim city administrator, a job she held here for three months in 2008. Ford said the search for a permanent city administrator will not begin right away.

“We’ve got the budget process coming up, and we’re probably going to wait until after the (May 8) election to discuss a search,” Ford said.
Jeffers had already been working part time at City Hall, helping to train two deputy city secretaries since the January retirement of former city secretary Linda Smith. Jeffers spent 23 years working with the City of Pampa, including holding the positions of City Secretary and Director of Human Resources and Community Services.

The board met with the city attorney in closed session for over an hour last Thursday before returning to open session and unanimously approving a motion to authorize the mayor to enter into an emergency agreement with Texas First Group to provide administrative and city secretary services.

The city administrator is also currently service as the city secretary, and Alderman Larry Hicks asked that it be placed on the board’s next agenda to discuss who will be trained for that job on a permanent basis.

Jeffers was Clarendon’s interim leader when former city administrator John Webb was hired in October 2008. Webb was let go by the board last month for what Mayor Ford has called “a lack of confidence in (Webb’s) ability to perform the duties of city administrator.”

A call this week to Webb’s residence in Borger had not been returned by press time.