VOL 5 No. 48
Phone: 281-980-6745
www.fbindependent.com .fbindependent.com ww
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2012
P. O.BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487-0623
Official newspaper of Fort Bend County, Missouri City & Sugar Land
Human Needs Ministry
‘Deck the Halls’ Holiday Concert
The Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra presents its popular holiday concert on Sunday, Dec. 2 at 2 p.m. at the Stafford Centre. Deck the Halls features seasonal favorites like Sleigh Ride and Frosty the Snowman, as well as classical selections from The Nutcracker and Fantasia on Greensleeves. Also featured are the remarkably talented junior and senior division winners of the Houston Music Teachers Association Concerto Competition who will perform piano concertos with accompaniment from FBSO. Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus will also be on hand to spread holiday cheer and pose for photographs. Concert-goers can also visit the Christmas Boutique featuring handcrafted items made by orchestra members. Purchase tickets early at fbso.org or call 281-276-9642. Children 12 and under are free when accompaFort Bend Symphony musicians Tofik Khanmamedov, Heather Nielson-Corbett and Katherine nied by an adult, but need a reLeskin share some secrets with Santa Claus about the orchestra’s December 2 holiday concert served ticket.
East Fort Bend Human Needs Ministry (Food Pantry & Emergency Assistance Agency) will be participating in this year’s Missouri City Snowfest Parade, Saturday, Dec. 8 and will collect non-perishable food items and gently used clothing during the parade route, and at the end of the parade. EFBHNM has been helping Fort Bend neighbors in need since 1990. More than 3,000 individuals each month receive some kind of emergency assistance from East Fort Bend Human Needs Ministry. The community’s support is needed and greatly appreciated, especially during the holidays. Above, Don Fought, left, Board By SESHADRI KUMAR Fort Bend County Sheriffmember/volunteer; Connie Esposito, Community Outreach elect Troy Nehls is facing an Coordinator; and, Ernie Morse, Board member/volunteer. unprecedented challenge in staffing before he takes office on Jan. 1. The recently created Civil Service Commission, an indeSteve Porter has announced his decision to seek election to pendent authority set up under the Sugar Land City Council District One in the May 11, 2013 the state statutes to protect the election. interests of sheriff’s departWith the announcement that current District One Councilman ment employees, has resulted and Mayor Pro tem Don Smithers will not seek re-election, Por- in an unintended consequence. ter believes it is an important time for him both professionally Under the existing civil and personally to step forward and serve the citizens and em- service commission rules, Neployers of his district. hls would have no ability to “For close to 32 years, my family and I have made the choice fire or hire employees at his to call District One our home,” Porter said. “We love its rich his- will. That means, he could be tory, great schools, planned growth, economic vitality, low taxes, saddled with senior staff owand the friendly, civic-minded people who also call District One ing allegiance to the erstwhile home.” administration. Porter believes the citizens of Sugar Land are fortunate that One would have thought city leaders and citizen volunteers have made the City, one of the the new sheriff would have best places to live and work in the nation. “Even with the good the powers to hire his own news, there are challenges ahead in District One involving aging chief deputy and some top infrastructure, quality development, safety, economic growth, level civil officials. Yes, Nehls mobility and others,” he said. would be able to hire a new Porter is currently serving his community as President of Gannoway Lake Estates Homeowners Association, Vice President of the Burney Road Municipal Utility District, member of the City of Sugar Land Pedestrian and Bicycle Task Force, and is currently participating in the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce Officials from Fort Bend Leadership Forum Class of 2013. County and the City of HousPreviously, Porter has served on both City and County wide ton gathered on November 20, boards and committees, for example City of Sugar Land City to break ground on the new Council Election Recount Committee, City of Sugar Land Uni- Senior Center located at 5525 versity Blvd. North Citizens Taskforce, Fort Bend County-City Hobby Road, behind the Boys of Sugar Land Municipal Airport Joint Zoning Board (County and Girls Club. representative), Boy Scouts of America local troops – Adult Fort Bend County Judge Committee member, and Fort Bend Young Life – Founding Robert Hebert and Precinct 2 Adult Committee member. Commissioner Grady Prestage Porter has a Master of Business Administration from Houston officiated at the ceremonies. Baptist University and a Bachelor of Science in Physics from the Officials from Fort Bend University of Houston. He and his wife, Nancy, have been mar- Count Commissioners Court, ried for 32 years, and have four sons. Porter retired from Exxon- Houston City Council MemMobil after a 39-year career as a global Information Technology bers Larry Green (K) and project manager. Wanda Adams (D), and numerous other community leaders and interested citizens were also on hand to celebrate the start of construction. 10701 Corporate Drive, #282, Stafford, TX 77477 Located in a portion of Fort Mailing Address: P.O. Box 623, Sugar Land, TX 77487 Bend County that is within the Houston city limits, the Cenwww.fbindependent.com Seshadri Kumar ter is an example of collaboraPublisher & Editor 281-980-6745 tion between the county and the City of Houston formed Fort Bend Independent, (USPS 025-572) is published every by leadership in both areas. Wednesday (for a subscription rate of $20 per year) by Fort Bend Funding for this community Independent, LLC., 10701 Corporate Dr., #282, Stafford, Texas project is jointly provided by 77477. Periodicals Postage Paid at Stafford, Texas. Fort Bend County and fedPOSTMASTER: Send address changes to Fort Bend Independent, eral funds secured through the P.O. Box 623, Sugar Land, Tx 77487.
Sheriff-elect calls for changes in rules
Steve Porter announces run for Sugar Land City Council
chief deputy because incumbent Craig Brady, who lost his bid for sheriff in the Republican Party primary, is set to retire at the end of the year. But, what about other top officials in the department? Under the existing rules, the sheriff can name 10 positions as exempt from the civil service rules. If people in these positions decline the “exempt” status, they will be demoted to the next level, and they will continue to draw their current salaries. Sheriff Milton Wright has not yet named these 10 “exempt” positions. If and when he does and when the respective staffers reject the offer, they will become “classified” employees, governed by the civil service commission. Thus, they will not be u to arbitrary firing by the new sheriff.
If Wright does not name the exempt positions, all the employees will be deemed “classified,” leaving no room for Nehls to fill any position. Confronted by the quixotic situation, Nehls has asked the civil service commission to change its rules. Nehls believes that the commission imposes restrictions on the sheriff, for which the commission has no authority. By determining the positions in the sheriff’s office, the commission dictates funding to the department, thus usurping the authority of the commissioners court, he says. There are about 24 budgeted Lieutenant positions. If ten of them are “exempt,” no sergeant will be able to get promoted as lieutenant for a decade or more, going by the current rate of attrition.
The commission forces “positions” that the sheriff has not asked for nor the commissioners court has approved the same. Also, the new sheriff will have top level employees doing mid-level jobs, costing more for the taxpayers. Nehls has offered some suggestions to the commission to rectify the situation. The commission is expected to consider Nehls’ recommendation at a special meeting this Wednesday. The commission is chaired by former Sugar Land Police Chief Ernie Taylor. In his letter to the commission, Nehls says “While I prefer to partner in formulating a process on the issue, ... I may proceed on this matter without regulation by the Civil service Commission.
County breaks ground for new senior center
Fort Bend County Judge Bob Hebert, sixth from left, county Commissioners Grady Prestage and James Patterson are joined by Houston City Council members and other officials during the groundbreaking. City of Houston’s Housing and Community Development Department. The City of Houston Health Department will provide health and wellness services and Fort Bend HHS will manage the day to day operations.
The Center will also include: an auditorium, a fitness center, an Internet Wi-Fi Café and mini-library. This facility is a symbol of progress, growth and concern among city and county leadership for the area’s aging
population and is scheduled to open its doors in the summer of 2013. “We have worked on this project for 4 years and we are very excited that it will finally become a reality”, said Commissioner Prestage.
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