There were two stories on the Bay City Sentinel’s front page last week related to the City of Bay City decisions.
One article detailed the creation of a new Communications and Marketing Department last week.
It’s aimed at communicating and marketing for the city and tourism.
The other article was about returning the Main Street program to the city.
Interim City Manager Scotty Jones sees Main Street working with the new Communications and Marketing Department under its new director Samantha Denbow.
I’d like to point out that neither of these developments – and the numerous moving parts therein – were discussed in an open meeting of City Council.
Emphasis on open meeting here.
I’d have to guess that council has discussed at least some of this in closed session.
I’m writing this not to provide any lumination on the subject, although I groan with tourism’s new role of supporting other city operations.
It’s hard to see through all of the language about tourism that just
doesn’t seem in line with bringing
heads on motel or bed & breakfast beds.
The Main Street relocation will continue the great work the program did when it was part of Bay City Community Development Corporation (BCCDC).
There were press releases about Main Street and the staff shuffling.
Maybe it’s better to handle the reassembly of programs and departments this way.
Probably easier to avoid any personnel related issues that would violated open meetings statutes.
When city council voted against renewing the Main Street management contract with BCCDC, it was after an executive session and took only a matter of seconds to be back in city hands again.
Bottom line: There was no public discussion on either of these two developments.
I guess council likes it that way.
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My son and his family are vacationing in the Florida Panhandle through Thursday.
When he called to wish me happy birthday Monday, I asked if they got chased by Hurricane/Tropical Storm Debby.
Nah, my son said the gulf waves were very rough and there was some wind, but nothing like Beryl, which is good.
Nothing to see here late Monday afternoon, except one of my grandson’s recent engagement announcement.
His fiancée is an Aggie and the family loves her.