5-2 vote fires MDD exec director

Citing “irresponsibility and insubordination,” the recently-appointed Rockdale Municipal Development District board—which is now the seven members of the Rockdale City Council—fired Kara Clore, the MDD executive director, at a meeting Monday night in City Hall,

“I will tell you what did it for me was the lack of responsiveness,” said MDD board member Mayor John King after the 5-2 vote that released Clore from her contract with the city.

The firing stemmed from what some members felt was Clore’s failure to follow direction on giving the city council a detailed budget, canceling a September MDD meeting and not calling a new meeting when asked to do so.

Voting to fire Clore were King and MDD board (also city council) members Michelle Larkin, Richard Coppedge, Denice Holmes-Wallace and Belinda Hillhouse.

Doug Calame and Jason Barcak voted against the firing.

BUDGET—Before the vote, the discussion, which occurred in public at the request of Clore, revolved around what Clore called a lack of communication over what form of a budget she should have provided to the council.

“I gave you the approved budget,” Clore told the board, that was appointed Sept. 25 by the city council, and is now composed of the current council members.

“That is not what the city wanted,” King said.

The city requested a more detailed report of expenses. “We wanted to see how you got those numbers,” he said.

The board also questioned Clore calling in an attorney when she wondered whether the new board was properly in place.

“I questioned that you called a lawyer. It was a waste of money. We are stewards of tax dollars,” Coppedge said.

OPEN RECORDS—Council members were also not happy that they had to send an open records request to a board that operates under its direction.

“We should not have to do an open records request to a board that works for the city,” King said.

Larkin reminded Clore that she had asked her to post notice of a meeting and was then told that she didn’t have authority to call a meeting.

“You work at the discretion of the board,” Larkin said, adding Clore’s comments were “insubordinate.”

Barcak said he wanted more information on the situation.

“I feel we’re basing this off too little information. There should be a probation or investigation,” he said, in casting his “no” vote to the motion calling for Clore’s dismissal.

‘GREAT JOB’—Clore spoke to the board following the vote.

“I spent eight years here,” she said. “I’m not taking this personally. You had to find a way to get rid of me. I know I have done a great job. If y’all don’t appreciate me, fine. I have an education and great experience behind me.”

Ironically, on Wednesday (Oct. 7) the MDD is being awarded a major economic development award from the Texas Economic Development Council in an online ceremony.

While the firing was “effective immediately,” Clore is being allowed to accept the online award.

She became MDD executive director in April, 2013, first in an interim capacity. Later the “interim” designation was dropped.

Previously she had been serving as an administrative assistant to Tom Manskey, first executive director.