The only thing that was done right in regards to Wednesday's specially-called City of Laredo council meeting was that Mayor Pete Saenz said that the council should have waited to vote on the selection of the "new" city manager. Everything else was "pretty much" business as usual. At the present time, "business as usual" in Laredo politics means it was done the wrong way.
A couple of months ago, councilman Rangel lead the move to oust then city manager Carlos Villarreal. They could not get him out of there fast enough. Ultimately, Rangel's move cost the city over $600,000. Co-incidentally, it was Rangel who led the move to install Chuy Olivares as the new city manager, even though for all practical purposes, Olivares serves as Carlos Villarreals right hand man for the last 8 years?
The council got the pay wrong as well. It took Carlos Villarreal 8 years to get to the obviously extravagant salary of $242,000 a year. Olivares starts at that same salary on the very first day on the job. It does not appear that our city council knows the meaning of fiduciary responsibility.
