September 27 Transcript

Texas Department of Transportation Commission Meeting

Special Meeting

STAFF:

ED SERNA, Assistant Executive Director for Support Operations
Bob Jackson, General Counsel
Roger Polson, Executive Assistant to the
Deputy Executive Director

MR. WILLIAMSON: Good afternoon. It's 2:30 p.m., and I would like to call this special meeting of the Texas Transportation Commission to order.

Please note for the record that public notice of this special meeting containing all items on the agenda was filed with the Office of the Secretary of State at 1:58 p.m. on September 19, 2007.

We've called this special meeting to continue deliberations and hopefully select the new executive director of the Texas Department of Transportation　--

MR. HOUGHTON: Emphasis on "hopefully."

MR. WILLIAMSON: -- that was words inserted by our general counsel, I'm sure.

We will be entering into executive session to discuss the selection, and will return to open session to publicly announce our hopeful decision and formally take action.

We will now recess our open meeting to go into executive session under Section 551.074 of the Government Code, to discuss the election of the executive director. It is now 2:31, meeting recessed.

(Whereupon, at 2:31 p.m., a recess was taken, to reconvene at 3:31 p.m.)

MR. WILLIAMSON: The executive session of the Texas Transportation Commission is hereby called to order. The time is 3:31 p.m., September 27, 2007.

Oh, I'm sorry, I'm reading the wrong script. That's what I did during our executive session. That executive session was recessed at 3:25 p.m.

We're now　--

VOICE: We have an audience.

MR. WILLIAMSON: We now have reconvened the meeting for the Texas Transportation Commission. For the record, the time is 3:31 p.m.

The commission has concluded its executive session, and we took no action during that executive session. In a moment I will entertain a motion if a member cares to make a motion, but I want to say one more time for the record because I'm keenly aware that most of the employees of the department are either watching us via the ozone or will watch the taped proceedings.

I want to make it clear to all of our employees that we have taken a great length of time to deliberate and consider what was originally a good list of candidates. And what became a well-qualified list of four, that became an incredibly well-qualified list of three.

And our taking the time to make a final decision was reflective of the fact that the skill set of each of the three, the strength and the weakness of each of the three, were almost exactly in balance. And all five of us wanted to be sure that we had deliberated the maximum amount of time, in order to make a decision.

It is my sense that members wish to make a decision, and if so, I will entertain a motion.

MS. ANDRADE: Mr. Chairman, I make a motion that Amadeo Saenz be the new executive director for the Department of Transportation for Texas, for the state of Texas.

MR. WILLIAMSON: Members, you've heard the motion. Is there a second to that motion?

MR. HOLMES: I second that motion.

MR. WILLIAMSON: You've heard the motion, members. All those in favor of the motion will signify by saying aye.

(A chorus of ayes.)

MR. WILLIAMSON: All opposed, no?

(No response.)

MR. WILLIAMSON: The motion carries. Mr. Saenz will be elected　-- stands elected as the new executive director of the department.

Is there any other business to come before the commission?

(No response.)

MR. WILLIAMSON: There being none, I'll entertain a motion　--

VOICE: Wait　-- Bob Jackson. Bob?

MR. JACKSON: You need to establish the salary and the effective date.

(Pause.)

MR. WILLIAMSON: We didn't talk about that. That motion carried, and I now move that that decision be made effective October 1, 2007, at an annual compensation level of $192,500 per year. Do I have a second?

MR. UNDERWOOD: Second.

MR. WILLIAMSON: You've heard the motion and second. All those in favor of the motion will signify by saying aye.

(A chorus of ayes.)

MR. WILLIAMSON: All opposed, no?

(No response.)

MR. WILLIAMSON: Motion carries.

Is there further business, Mr. Counsel?

MR. JACKSON: Sign the minute order.

MR. WILLIAMSON: Is what?

MR. JACKSON: We need to sign the minute order.

MR. HOUGHTON: Mr. Chairman?

MR. WILLIAMSON: Yes, sir.

MR. HOUGHTON: Is it appropriate for the designee to speak as he just walked into the room?

MR. WILLIAMSON: Mr. Saenz, do you care to address the commission?

MR. SAENZ: Thank you. Good afternoon, Commissioners. For the record, Amadeo Saenz. I want to thank you. I think that any of the three candidates that were there in the final could have done this job.

I'm honored to accept the job, and look forward to working with the rest of our staff, and we all take this department to the next generation. To the next century and to a whole bunch of new things. I'm a little bit excited right now.

MR. WILLIAMSON: Well, Amadeo, we are as excited for you as we are for ourselves and the department. And we hope that you're successful in forging the kinds of coalitions and building the kind of team around yourself that will help guarantee your success.

We wouldn't want to　-- for one second, we wouldn't want you to think that it was anything but the best of decisions for us, because we had three really strong candidates. I　-- and yourself included. I mean, it was a most unusual situation, and we all five stand ready to assist you in being as successful as possible.

MR. SAENZ: Thank you, and I look forward to working with each one of you.

MS. ANDRADE: Thank you. Good luck.

MR. WILLIAMSON: Thank you.

VOICE: Congratulations.

MR. SAENZ: Thank you.

MR. WILLIAMSON: Is there other business to come before the commission this day?

(No response.)

MR. WILLIAMSON: Is there a motion?

MR. UNDERWOOD: So move.

MR. HOUGHTON: Second.

MR. WILLIAMSON: I have a motion and a second that we adjourn this meeting. All those in favor of the motion, signify by saying ayes.

(A chorus of ayes.)

MR. WILLIAMSON: All opposed, no?

(No response.)

MR. WILLIAMSON: The motion carries. We stand adjourned at 3:36 p.m.

(Whereupon, at 3:36 p.m., the meeting was adjourned.)

MEETING OF: Texas Transportation Commission
LOCATION: Austin, Texas
DATE: September 27, 2007

I do hereby certify that the foregoing pages, numbers 1 through 10 inclusive, are the true, accurate, and complete transcript prepared from the verbal recording made by electronic recording by Stacey Harris before the Texas Department of Transportation.

 10/01/2007
(Transcriber) (Date)

On the Record Reporting, Inc.
3307 Northland, Suite 315
Austin, Texas 78731

back to top