Eagle Pass City Manager George Antuna Resigns Effective Immediately, City Council Appoints Ivan Morua as Interim City Manager
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2022
Eagle Pass, Texas City Manager George Antuna tendered a letter of resignation effective immediately on Tuesday, August 9, 2022, in Open Session at a Special City Council Meeting after being evaluated earlier in Executive Session.
The Eagle Pass City Council went into Executive Session at 6:27 p.m. to discuss several agenda items, including agenda item no. 5 regarding “discussion of personnel evaluation of city manager and possible action in open session regarding same.”
After a lengthy four hours and 14 minutes Executive Session, the City Council returned into Open Session at 10:41 p.m. to address several items discussed during Executive Session, including the personnel evaluation of City Manager George Antuna and possible action regarding same.
Mayor Rolando Salinas, Jr. stated the City Council has received a Letter of Resignation from City Manager George Antuna and quickly moved to entertain a motion to accept the Letter of Resignation, but City Attorney Heriberto Morales, Jr. of Langley & Banack requested Mayor Salinas that Mr. Antuna wished to read his letter of resignation before the City Council voted on it.
City Manager George Antuna read his Letter of Resignation, stating “First and foremost, I want to say thank you to all of you for the opportunity to serve the community. So, it is with a heavy heart that I submit this Letter of Resignation. It has been an amazing three years. Just sorry that I won’t be able to be here to see projects to fruition, but I have an amazing team of directors and employees who have done much to help the City move forward and have embraced my vision. My last date is effective immediately. If needed, I can help discuss a transition. Otherwise, I will be back tomorrow to pick up my items. Once again, thank you so much. I appreciate it and wish you guys the very best.”
Council member Monica J. Cruz immediately moved to accept Antuna’s Letter of Resignation and Council member Eliaz Diaz seconded the motion. Before taking the vote to accept the Letter of Resignation, Council member William “Billy” Davis thanked Antuna for his commitment, vision, ideas, and services to the City and Mayor Pro-Tem Yolanda P. Ramon echoed Davis’ comments and added that she is “forever grateful.” Mayor Salinas and Council members Cruz and Diaz also thanked Antuna and wished him the best.
The City Council approved the acceptance of Antuna’s Letter of Resignation on a split vote with Mayor Salinas and Council members Cruz and Diaz voting for acceptance of the Letter of Resignation, while Mayor Pro-Tem Ramon and Council member Davis voted against accepting the Letter of Resignation. The motion passed on a 3-2 split majority vote.
Council member Davis made the motion to appoint Assistant City Manager Ivan Morua as Interim City Manager and the City Council unanimously approved Morua as Interim City Manager.
Antuna was initially hired as City Manager on March 4, 2019 and recently on October 14, 2021 was granted a one year extension at an increased salary of $155,0000 plus benefits. Antuna served three years and five months as City Manager of Eagle Pass.
Antuna’s letter of resignation stunned the citizens of Eagle Pass because he had just received a contract extension and pay raise and the City is currently in the middle of the budget process for the 2022-2023 fiscal year.
