Newman City Council adopts 2025 budget, confirms appointments and approves multiple resolutions and contracts

Newman City Council on Jan. 7, 2025 adopted the city’s fiscal year 2025 budget and approved a package of appointments, resolutions and contracts that will guide city operations through Dec. 31, 2025.

The council voted to adopt the ordinance adopting and executing the budget for the fiscal year beginning Jan. 1, 2025 and ending Dec. 31, 2025, following a public hearing held at a prior meeting. The motion passed by voice vote and the mayor declared the motion carried.

The budget vote led an otherwise routine meeting in which council members also approved resolutions to amend the 2025 pay plan and to amend the personnel policy manual, adopted an amendment to Chapter 13 of the municipal court ordinance, and set qualifying fees for the Nov. 4, 2025 general election. The council also approved a contract award for custodial cleaning services, consented to a 180-day postponement in arbitration related to the Sidney Pope Farms annexation, granted a retail on-premise alcohol license for a business at 11 Spence Avenue, and adopted a joint resolution dissolving the city’s hospital authority.

The council confirmed several appointments and reappointments. Jim Thomason was nominated and approved as mayor pro tem for 2025. The council reappointed existing department heads on the city manager’s recommendation and approved appointments for legal and court positions: Brad Sears as city attorney; Clay Collins as municipal court judge (now a two-year term); Rufus Smith Jr. as municipal court judge pro tem (two-year term); Daniel Will Sewell as municipal court solicitor; and Jim Strickland as municipal public defender. The mayor announced housing-authority appointments…