Temporary city manager tapped

LAGUNA VISTA - The Board of Aldermen had three candidates to choose from for the position of interim city manager when it met this week.

Clifford Rowell, currently employed as building inspector for Port Isabel, served many years as assistant city manager on South Padre Island, and was interim city manager before Dewey Cashwell was hired.

Rowell was also fire chief and served many other roles during his career with South Padre Island. He also serves as a director of the Laguna Madre Water District.

Bettina Tolin, daughter of South Padre Island Alderman Rick Ridolfi, owns her own consulting business on the Island. She has years of government and management experience.

The third candidate, Rolando Vela, is well known in San Benito, having served there as both assistant and interim city manager for five years.

After interviewing all three candidates in executive session, one after the other, aldermen remained secluded for another thirty minutes or so before they reconvened in open session.

Alderwoman Terri Galloway moved that the town hire Vela as interim city manager for a period of three to six months at a salary of $50,000 a year, beginning immediately.

The board concurred unanimously.

Vela said he hoped the brief period of serving as interim city manager would demonstrate his abilities, and that he planned to apply for the job of permanent city manager.

Mayor Stan Hulse thanked the other two candidates, and said the qualifications of all of them made the selection process very difficult.

Vela is also one of the 22 candidates for city manager being interviewed by San Benito officials this week.

Vela said he had submitted resumes and job applications in several places.

However, he added, when he interviews at San Benito he will now have to tell them his previous commitment to Laguna Vista must be fulfilled before he can begin.

In other business aldermen accepted a bid to purchase a used police vehicle, a 2000 Chevrolet Impala, approved the final advertisement for the position of city manager, and approved suggested placements of the ad.