Conduct a closed meeting pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 551.074 to
deliberate the duties and responsibilities of the City Manager.
This $30,000 report.
Joint City Council and Staff leadership training and conflict management workshop led and facilitated by Lion Strategy Group.
February 10 email to elected officials. The report had been released to the elected officials Feb. 9.
To whom it may concern,
In pursuant of the Texas Freedom of Information please provide a copy of the Lions Strategy Group report that was released on Feb. 10, 2021. Due to the nature of this report, time is of the essence so I'd like to get a copy as soon as possible.
Thank you,Terry Lantrip
Conduct a closed meeting pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 551.074 to deliberate and evaluate the duties, responsibilities, and performance of the City Manager.
Email to elected officials dated February 24, 2021
Just a quick note to let you all know that I have yet to receive the report done by the Lions Strategy Group requested two weeks ago as of today.
It is my intent to speak at tomorrow's council meeting during the Citizen's Agenda and would like to address the report and the agenda item pertaining a further contract with the Lions Strategy Group. Not having a copy of the report will hinder my ability to speak on the subject. With the new contract with Lions Strategy Group at hand, it seems like constituent input would be important.
Thank you
Terry Lantrip
MOTION: I move that the Mayor be directed to provide the City Manager notice of the City Council's intent to vote on a Universal Severance of the City Manager's Employment Agreement pursuant to the Section 6.4 of the said agreement at a meeting of the City Council to be held at 5:30 p.m. March 3 was made by Councilmember Ray and second by Councilmember Nolan.
Motion: I move that Lancene Bentley be appointed to serve as Acting City Manager effective immediately and until the effective date of appointment of an Interim City Manager or the appointment by the City Council of another person to serve as Acting City Manager was made by Councilmember Ray and seconded by Councilmember Nolan.
Motion: In accordance with Section 6.4 of the amended and restated City Manager Employment Agreement effective Jan. 2, 2021 I move that said agreement be terminated effective at midnight on March 13, 2021 was made by Councilmember Bailey and second by Councilmember Cheryl McClain.
The exact financial figure of what Mr. Cabrales will receive beginning March 4, 2021 including wages, insurance, expenses and any other financial payments or expenditures - $114,263.16
Email dated March 7, 2021
Dear Michael, Andi, Charlie, Megan, Cheryl and Brian,
On Nov. 12, 2020 the Lake Dallas City Council approved a $30,000 expenditure with Lions Strategy Group to do a study and report on City Hall.
On Feb. 9, 2021 that report was released to the City Council in a Special Session.
On Feb. 10, 2021 in a Freedom of Information Request sent to City Secretary Codi Del Cambre, I requested a copy of that report.
On Feb. 24, 2021 I sent you all an email letting you know that it had been two weeks since my FOI request and I had yet to receive the report. In that email I stated: "It is my intent to speak at tomorrow's council meeting during the Citizen's Agenda and would like to address the report and the agenda item pertaining a further contract with the Lions Strategy Group. Not having a copy of the report will hinder my ability to speak on the subject. With the new contract with Lions Strategy Group at hand, it seems like constituent input would be important."
On the Feb. 25, 2021 City Council Agenda, item 8 stated: "Consider and Act on a Resolution authorizing the negotiation and execution of a professional services agreement with The Lion Strategy Group, LLC for the implementation of an organizational development and leadership management norms action plan." This was a $90,000 expenditure based on the $30,000 Lions Strategy Group report, the same report that has yet to be made public. I'm confused as to why this was even a consideration since the original report had not been released.
On March 3, 2021 I received an email from contracted City Attorney Julie P. Dosher with Nichols, Jackson, Dillard, Hager and Smith, LLC stating the City was submitting information to the Attorney General. An attached letter to the Attorney General stated the city did not want to release the report. Also attached was the first eight pages of the report. I'll be forwarding this email with attachments.
On March 3, 2021 you all voted 5-0 to terminate the City Manager with the Mayor reading a speech that has left many confused followed by additional confusing comments by several council members. It is imperative that the full, un-redacted report (minus any names) be released in full. Sure, it most likely will reveal unflattering information but it must be allowed to be released. This report was paid for by the taxpayers and the taxpayers deserve to know what has been going on and what may be continuing to go on at their City Hall. Many residents are confused as to why the City Manager was terminated and the speech read by the Mayor and comments by several council members added to that confusion. The release of the report may explain why the City Manager had to go as well as others who need to be terminated. Your timely attention to this matter is appreciated.
Thank you, Terry Lantrip
Conduct a closed meeting pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 551.074 to deliberate the appointment or employment of a City Manager and/or Interim City Manager.
Cost:
Motion: I move to authorize the Mayor to negotiate and execute a Professional Services Agreement with Lion Strategy Group for Interim City Manager, Staff Training, and City Manager recruitment and selection service consistent with the scope of services presented at this evening's meeting, was made by Councilmember Ray and second by Councilmember Nolan.
Passed 5-0
Conduct a closed meeting pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 551.074 to discuss the employment of the Chief of Police.
Conduct a closed meeting pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 551.074 to deliberate the duties and responsibilities of the Interim City Manager.
"Therefore, the city may not withhold any of the submitted information under section 552.111 of the Government Code. As no other exceptions to disclosure have been raised, the city must release the submitted information."
No information available at this time.
Conduct a closed meeting pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 551.071 to consult with the City’s attorney relating to pending or contemplated litigation involving claims made by Glenda Cowling.
Roughly $50,000.
Assessment of Lake Dallas city government 'mean girl behavior,' 'toxic elements'
By Justin Grass, Staff Writer
Preceding the exit of Lake Dallas’ city manager, police chief and mayor, among other vacancies, a professional assessment of the city’s internal government found substantial problems, including alleged “mean girl behavior” and “toxic elements,” and identified potential threats including bullying and sexual harassment.
The $30,000 assessment was conducted by Lion Strategy Group, a Fort Worth-based consulting company. It began in December and included weeks of interviews with city employees, former employees and community members that culminated in a 47-page report.
The report was not made public until Monday, when it was released to Lake Dallas community member and real estate developer Terry Lantrip following a decision from the Texas Attorney General’s Office. Substantial issues within the city’s internal government are referenced in the assessment, including potential threats such as “unhealthy work environment,” “toxicity in the environment,” sexual harassment and discrimination based on “gender/age/sexual orientation.” In its summary, the report states: “The general problem is that negative leaders are negatively affecting the wellbeing and work performance of their employees.”
Lantrip keeps track of several Lake Dallas developments and files — including the Lion Strategy Group’s report — on a publicly available website, which includes a timeline of the city’s recent actions.
“Many members reported open bullying of team members. When incidents have been reported, they were told it would be addressed, but the behavior continues,” reads Page 7 of the report, which summarizes statements made during the assessment’s interviews. “One member of the organization reported that working for the city has been a ‘Living Hell’ due to the repeated bullying and harassment. Stated they have been targeted for their age and physical limitations.”
The report included several employee surveys as well, with 48.15% responding they were under an excessive amount of stress and 48.28% rating the city’s morale as “high.” A total of 13.79% of the survey’s respondents reported seeing racist or sexually offensive materials or behaviors displayed, and the same percentage reported they were subject to discrimination in the past 12 months.
In the wake of the assessment — released to city officials in early February — several positions have been vacated, including Lake Dallas city manager, chief of police and mayor, all three of which have opened up within the past three months.
John Cabrales, a former city of Denton employee, joined Lake Dallas in July 2017 as its interim city manager before fully taking over the position. In early March, the Lake Dallas City Council voted unanimously to terminate his employment — a decision Mayor Michael Barnhart referred to as “difficult” in a prepared statement.
“John has worked with the City Council and the various department directors to transition the city to a more modern and professional organization,” Barnhart stated following the vote. “Such transitions do not come without disagreement, as those used to doing things the way things used to be, or were always done, sometimes push back on these changes — and such changes certainly have not come without some internal missteps.”
Reached by phone this week, Cabrales declined to comment on the circumstances of his termination, although he said he’s had no involvement with the city’s government since leaving.
“Ever since I’ve left Lake Dallas, I have not had any involvement with officials in Lake Dallas,” Cabrales said.
Weeks later, the city hired Lion Strategy Group to handle its vacant interim city manager position, in addition to staff training and city manager recruitment. That agreement placed one of the group’s founding partners, Mike Wilson, in the role of Lake Dallas interim city manager. Formerly Keller police chief before retiring from the role, Wilson said Lake Dallas is moving forward on improving its workplace.
“I think the contents of the report pretty much stand by themselves,” Wilson said. “I believe it’s laid out in the action plan that the council approved, which is a combination of different types of training … all of those things are focused on promoting wellness and a healthy work environment.”
Lake Dallas Police Chief Daniel Carolla retired from the position last month. Reached Friday — the day he picked up his retirement paperwork — he said that while he can’t speak for anyone else, his decision was about starting a new career in the private sector.
“I’m only 45 years old, so I’m getting ready to start a second career,” Carolla said. “For me, it was the right time to retire. It was all about timing for me.”
Just over two weeks ago, Barnhart announced his resignation as mayor at a City Council meeting. Similar to Carolla, he said his decision was focused on a new opportunity rather than any workplace issues.
“The reason I resigned was that I had another opportunity present itself to me,” said Barnhart, who had a year of his mayoral term left. “In order to give it the 100% it requires, I couldn’t give 50% to it and 50% to the city.”
Barnhart, the founder of local nonprofit There Has to Be More Ministries, acknowledged the city is actively working through some “bad choices.”
“Obviously, with people leaving, there’s going to be rumors,” Barnhart said. “Like any industry, there have been some bad choices made. What effects that will have on the city still remains to be seen. They’re working on rectifying all of that as quickly as possible.”
Highlights of contract:
Section 1.1 - Initial term of three years starting Sept. 1, 2021 end ending Aug. 31, 2024.
Section 1.2 - Term may be extended for additional one year terms.
Section 3.1 - Salary: $125,000 per year.
3.10 - Civic Activities. The Manager is encouraged to participate in community and civic organizations and activities. The cost of such activities shall be borne by the City but shall be subject to available funds budgeted for such purposed in the City's annual budget.
3.11 - Automobile allowance of $300 per month.
5.1 - Evaluation Process. The Council shall review the Manager's job performance at least once annually. The first job performance review after the Commencement Date shall occur not later than April 1, 2022. Subsequent annual reviews shall occur between April 1 and May 31 of each year thereafter unless the Parties agree otherwise. The annual performance reviews and evaluations shall be in writing and in accordance with criteria and format developed jointly by the Council and the Manager. The Council shall provide the Manager a reasonable and adequate opportunity to discuss with the Council and/or respond to the Council's evaluation of the Manager. The annual performance reviews and evaluations shall be reasonably related to the Manager's written job description, the City Charter, and this Agreement, and other acts of the City Council setting forth the City Manager's Duties, and shall be based, in whole or in part, on goals for the Manager's performance that are jointly developed and adopted by the Council and the Manager. Nothing herein shall be construed as limiting the City Council from conducting such additional performance reviews as it deems necessary during the Terms of this Agreement.
5.2 - Confidentiality. Unless the Manager expressly request otherwise in writing, except to the extent prohibited by or in material conflict with Applicable Laws and Authorities, the evaluation of the Manager shall at all times be conducted in closed session of the Council and shall be considered confidential to the maximum and fullest extent permitted by law. Northing herein shall prohibit the Council or the Manager from sharing the content of the Council's evaluation of the Manager with their respective legal counsel.
5.3 Modification of Evaluation Progress - In the event the Council determines that the evaluation instrument, format and/or procedure are to be modified by the Council, and such modifications would require new or different performance expectations, then the Manager shall be provided a reasonable period of time to demonstrate such expected performance before being evaluated.
City Council votes 5-0 to put City Manager John Cabrales on leave pending dismissal.
City Council votes 5-0 to terminate City Manager John Cabrales.
Proposed training - $90,000 (this is in addition to the $30,000 Lake Dallas has already paid Lions Strategy Group for the original report listed on the 2020 page of this website.)
This was on the Feb. 25, 2021 City Council Agenda but it was not acted on.
Legal action by former Permit Tech Glenda Cowling against Lake Dallas. The City settled this lawsuit for about $50,000.
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