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Pasadena council upholds termination after closed‑door appeal; public calls for reinstatement
Summary
After an executive‑session hearing, Pasadena City Council voted unanimously to uphold the termination of employee Tonda **** following a Suspension Appeals Board recommendation. Family and supporters had urged the council to set aside the termination, alleging charter violations and unfair process.
The Pasadena City Council voted Aug. 19 to uphold the termination of city employee Tonda **** after a private appeal hearing and a Suspension Appeals Board recommendation to sustain the dismissal.
The action followed an executive session held under Texas Government Code §551.074. Councilman Emanuel Guerrero moved to uphold the termination; Councilman Fuschler seconded the motion. A roll call vote recorded 'Aye' from each council member present and the mayor declared the motion upheld.
Supporters of Tonda **** pressed the council during the public‑comment period before the executive session. Nikki Hunt, who identified herself as a resident and advocate for the terminated employee, asked council members to "set aside the recent termination of Tonda ****" and argued the dismissal was both "unjust and in direct violation of the city charter." Hunt cited the charter's Article 3, Section 8, saying, "The mayor may suspend or terminate any employee only if notice is given to the council within 10 business days at a regular meeting." She urged the council to restore the employee's job and said the charter is the law of the city.
Tonda ****'s spouse, identified in public comment as Carl ****, described his wife's long service at the city golf course and called the termination wrongful, saying she had been given the choice to resign or face termination.
City staff read that a suspension appeals board had conducted a private hearing, received testimony and exhibits, and "unanimously voted for a recommendation to counsel to uphold the termination of Tonda ****." Following the board's report, the council moved to act on that recommendation and voted to uphold the termination. The transcript records the chair stating, "Motion is upheld." (motion moved by Councilman Emanuel Guerrero; second by Councilman Fuschler).
The meeting materials and public comments referenced the city charter and the timeline of the termination; speakers alleged the mayor did not provide the council timely notice as required by the charter. The council did not announce any immediate reinstatement, conditional remedy, or additional review at the Aug. 19 meeting.
The meeting concluded after the vote. The council scheduled no further public action on the matter during that session.
