Austin, TX
Austin’s city manager fired over botched winter storm response
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Two weeks after Austin officers as soon as once more got here underneath hearth for his or her flawed response to a serious winter storm, Metropolis Council members fired town’s high official — whom they blamed for persistent issues dealing with main disasters.
The Metropolis Council ousted Metropolis Supervisor Spencer Cronk, who oversees town’s day-to-day operations, in a 10-1 vote Wednesday — with newly elected Mayor Kirk Watson among the many votes to eliminate Cronk. An interim metropolis supervisor will take over Cronk’s duties Thursday.
Cronk, who headed town since 2018, fell out of favor with council members after a winter freeze earlier this month knocked out electrical energy for tens of 1000’s of households and companies, who grew pissed off ready for town to inform them when the lights and warmth would come again on. Poor communication was additionally a key failing through the lethal 2021 winter storm, in line with a metropolis audit.
However what sealed Cronk’s destiny was a flareup final week over town’s contract with the Austin Police Affiliation, the union that represents town’s law enforcement officials.
Council members deliberate to vote final Thursday on a measure to attempt to lengthen the union’s present contract for one yr. Metropolis and union negotiators have been hammering out a brand new multiyear contract, however council members didn’t wish to approve a brand new police contract earlier than a Might referendum wherein voters will weigh in on civilian oversight of Austin’s police power.
The evening earlier than the vote, Cronk threw council members off steadiness by asserting that town and union had struck a tentative settlement on a brand new four-year contract. At a tense and complicated assembly, Cronk put up stiff resistance to beginning up contemporary negotiations when each events had already tentatively agreed to a longer-term deal — and warned of dire monetary penalties if the council handed on the four-year deal.
In remarks after Cronk’s firing, Watson labeled Cronk’s method to the police union contract “all-or-nothing B.S.” that difficult the council’s efforts to steadiness the desire of the voters with the necessity to do proper by town’s officers.
“Let me be clear: We aren’t going to do our enterprise like this anymore,” Watson mentioned Wednesday. “It stops immediately. The outcomes are too essential.”
Finally, the Metropolis Council obtained its manner. In a 9-2 vote Wednesday afternoon, council members instructed town’s negotiators to hammer out a one-year extension of the union’s present contract.
Cronk initially struck a contrite tone over the winter storm, apologizing final week for town’s delays speaking with the general public and vowing that town would make enhancements. However after Watson and three council members introduced Saturday that they deliberate to contemplate his termination, Cronk defended his selections, notably across the police union contract.
Cronk mentioned in an announcement Wednesday he revered the council’s choice.
“I thank the Austin group for the chance to guide this nice metropolis, and I thank our Metropolis workers for his or her constant dedication to offering the perfect public service,” he mentioned.
One of many metropolis’s top-paid officers, Cronk will get a severance fee — about $463,000 — equal to his wage and different advantages.
The council appointed Jesús Garza — Austin’s metropolis supervisor from 1994 to 2002, throughout Watson’s earlier tenure as mayor, and uncle of Travis County District Lawyer Jose Garza — to work as interim metropolis supervisor whereas town hunts for a everlasting substitute. Garza’s first day is Thursday.
It’s unclear how lengthy it would take Austin to discover a new metropolis supervisor. In an interview with The Texas Tribune, Watson wouldn’t decide to a timetable.
“We’ll take the suitable time to get the perfect metropolis supervisor we are able to,” Watson mentioned.