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Council reinstates city-administrator office after heated debate; mayor and council split in public remarks
Summary
By unanimous vote the Haslet City Council reinstated the office and duties of a city administrator (Ordinance 016-2025) after an extended public hearing and discussion about the role, reporting relationships and the citymanager vs. city-administrator models.
The Haslet City Council voted Sept. 15 to adopt Ordinance No. 016-2025, reinstating an office of city administrator and defining duties for that position. The measure followed a lengthy presentation by Mayor Gary Halsey, a public hearing with residents both for and against the position, and council discussion about the proper form of municipal government and lines of authority.
Mayor Halsey opposed shifting executive authority away from the mayor's office and argued against hiring a city administrator similar to prior administrators who, he said, had contributed to prior project failures. He did say he would be open to hiring a narrower "city administrative assistant" who would handle ministerial tasks and report to the mayor. Other councilmembers and multiple written commenters supported a full-time professional administrator (or later a city manager model) to provide day-to-day management, pursue grants, coordinate capital projects and handle intergovernmental communications.
During the public hearing, residents and several email authors expressed both support and opposition. Written comments filed with the clerk included requests to proceed with the city administrator appointment and objections urging the council not to reopen previously decided matters. After the public hearing the council motioned to approve the ordinance; the motion passed unanimously.
The ordinance reinstates the office and delegates administrative duties to an appointed professional; it does not immediately include a specific hire or contract in the same vote. The council directed staff to proceed per the ordinance and brought the item to conclusion at the Sept. 15 meeting.
