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The Home Of Super Bowl Champion Earl Thomas III

County Record Vol. 53 No. 47

The Community Newspaper of Orange, Texas

OC hiring freeze and staffing policy David Ball

For The Record

Orange County department heads will now have to wait six weeks to replace an employee vacancy after the commissioners court approved a hiring freeze and the establishment of a staffing review committee policy at their meeting Monday afternoon. Jody Crump, Precinct 4 commissioner, proposed modifying the Orange County Per-

Gunfire results in man’s death Debby Schamber For The Record Deputies of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office along with officers from the U.S. Marshall’s office were attempting to serve a warrant Tuesday when gunfire suddenly erupted. Law enforcement members were trying to make contact with the 65-yearold man to serve a warrant at about 5:15 p.m. in the 800 block of FM 1131 which is located in northwest Vidor. Gunfire erupted and the man was later declared dead at the scene. However, no law enforcement officers were injured during the exchange of gunfire. As of press time, the man’s name had not been released.

BC Knights Offer Lenten Fried Fish Dinners

Dinners will be served each Fri. (except Good Fri.) during Lent at the Bridge City KC Hall on W. Round Bunch, adjacent to St. Henry Catholic Church. Dinner is $8 (fried fish, French fries, hush puppies, cole slaw) Customers can dinein or take-out dinners. We will also delivery 10 or more orders. For more info contact our Grand Knight, Jimmy LeBlanc 409.670.2155

• SHERLOCK BREAUX Page...................... 4A • Obituaries Page.......................7A •Dicky Colburn Fishing...................1B • CHURCH NEWS Page.......................7B

Crump

Week of Wednesday February 26, 2014

The Record Souvenir Edition

sonnel Policy to delay any new hires for six weeks. He said he received the idea after attending an continuing education course in

Galveston. The policy is designed not to double pay employees from payroll and is based on the city of El Paso’s policy. The addendum to the policy is to start a Staffing Review Committee. Crump said the county paid out more than $111,000 to outgoing employees from January 1, 2014 through February 19, 2014 alone. There will be a sixweek delay for the department on the last day of the employee’s employment with the county. Early in the discussion, John Banken, Precinct 3 commissioner, said he would second the motion if Crump would abandon the idea of a staffing committee. Crump replied the policy is not exempting the employees’ pay. David Dubose, Pct. 1 commissioner, said he would like for the commissioners to table the motion and discuss more about the proposal. Jeff Kelley, emergency management coordinator, said he was concerned about employees with 20 years of tenure with the county being paid at that level versus new employees coming in being paid at a lower rate. “There will be a difference,” Kelley said. The final vote tally was 4 to 1 with Dubose voting against the proposal. He said he wanted more time to study the proposal before voting. County Judge Carl Thibodeaux said the county had to start somewhere to begin erasing a $3.1 million deficit. The committee will consist of Commissioners Banken and Crump, a representative from the County Auditor’s office, a representative from the County Attorney’s office (non-voting, legal advisor member) a representative from the DA’s office, a representative from the Human Resources department and a representative from the Treasurer’s office. The new employment policy immediately had an effect. Gene Smith, Veterans Service Officer, requested approval to fill the coordinator position at the Veterans office with the departure of Doug Childers. Dubose asked Smith if he could fill the vacant position with a part-time employee. Smith said he could, but part-time personnel often select the hours they want to work rather than being available all the time. Thibodeaux said a part-time employee may have an opportunity to go fulltime. Smith said a part-time employee receives free training if they work more than 1,000 hours per year. Dubose said citizens should thank a veteran for the freedoms in this country and he doesn’t think commissioners should be cutting the Veterans office hours at the present time. Smith was told by the court his office would have to wait six weeks to fill the position

The Faces of Mardi Gras 2014 Orange, Texas

All Photos Larry Trimm For The Record Newspapers texasboderlinephotography.com Penny Leleux For The Record

There was a huge turnout for the Mardi Gras Parade and After-Party held in Orange Saturday. People turned out in droves to catch beads, coins, cups and any-

thing else thrown from the floats. One batch of revelers even had pizza delivered to them on the street while they waited for the parade. This year, the After-Party was held at the new Riverfront Pavilion downtown

near the courthouse annex and Farmers’ Mercantile, so the parade route was changed accordingly. It began and ended at the annex parking lot. Some people FACES OF MARDI GRAS Page 3A

COUNTY Page 2A

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