SEPTEMBER 14, 2022 KASZ RECEIVES $20K DONATION FOR NEW CENTER
HAYS HAWKS RISE TO VICTORY 54-21 PAGE 11
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Vol. 128 • No. 27
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Scott Sellers resigns as city manager amid investigation BY ASHLEY KONTNIER AND AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN After almost eight years as Kyle’s chief administrative officer, city manager Scott Sellers announced his resignation effective Sept. 6. The resignation comes on the heels of several closed door meetings and was accepted following an executive session during the Kyle City Council meeting Tuesday, Sept. 6. During the executive session, the council deliberated an internal SCOTT SELLERS complaint against the city manager and also discussed Hendrix as interim city the continued employment manager. of the city manager. The Sellers went on an council reconvened at 1:51 unplanned sabbatical a.m., where it unanimously sometime between June approved a separation 21 and June 25. City release waiver agreement records show that Sellers with Sellers and appointed was present at the regular acting city manager Jerry council meeting on June
21. Although he was on the posted agenda for a June 25 meeting, minutes show he was not in attendance at that meeting. Instead, Jerry Hendrix stood in as acting city manager. Through an open records request, the Hays Free Press determined that, at the next regularly scheduled council meeting on July 5, council members signed a confidentiality agreement during executive session. The agreement states, “1. By signing this Agreement, I acknowledge and understand that the information discussed, heard, or read in City Council executive session on July 5, 2022 regarding resolution of a personnel matter (the "Matter') is received by me in the course and scope of my duties as a City Council member
and that the release of such information could adversely affect the property, government, or affairs of the City… Therefore, I agree that all information discussed, heard or read in the City Council Executive Sessions will not be released, copied, discussed or shared in any manner with any individual other than City Council members present in the Executive Session, legal counsel representing the City in this matter, except as may be required by the Ethics Ordinance or applicable state or federal law.” It continues, “2. I further agree not to make disparaging remarks in any form and to anyone, whether oral, written or electronic, and whether to the community or on social media about
the Matter. I agree that I shall not respond to any written or verbal requests for information about the Matter and shall refer all such requests to the Interim City Manager or City Attorney. The obligations in this clause continue after the employee involved in the personnel matter is no longer employed with the City.” According to the Texas State Government Code, Sec. 552.001 states, “Under the fundamental philosophy of the American constitutional form of representative government that adheres to the principle that government is the servant and not the master of the people, it is the policy of this state that each person is entitled, unless otherwise expressly provided by law, at all times to complete
information about the affairs of government and the official acts of public officials and employees. The people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know.” Kelley Shannon, Executive Director of the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas, explained the use of confidentiality agreements or non-disclosure agreements to contract the silence of council members is against their first amendment rights. "City council members have a First Amendment right to speak out publicly if they wish, and the city can't quash that right of elected officials with a non-
See KYLE, page 12
Kyle FD pays tribute to 9/11 fallen heroes BY MEGAN WEHRING KYLE – 110 flights. 2,200 steps. On Sept. 11, 2022, Kyle firefighters participated in an annual stair climb to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice 21 years ago. The firefighters completed the climb with gear, or extra weight, a hose bundle, and the fallen heroes' names. “Putting on the gear felt different and much more significant today,” a Kyle Fire Department Facebook post said on Sunday. “It was a somber reminder that today marks twentyone years since the day that reshaped America. … 110 flights; 2,200 steps.” The first “9/11 Memorial Stair Climb” occurred in Parwan Province, Afghanistan, on Sept. 11, 2003, when Albuquerque Fire Department Lieutenant Charles Cogburn scaled a two-story building 55 times wearing body armor, a helmet and an M-4. Lt. Cogburn returned home and on the following Sept. 11th (2004), the climb was held in the United States for the first time, according to the Association CONTRIBUTED PHOTO of Memorial Stair Climbs. In 2010, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation reached Kyle firefighters are joined by Fire CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
A 9/11 memorial stair climb is not a race. It’s an enduring, active tribute to the fallen.
Academy cadets, family and friends to participate in a 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb.
See 9/11 page 12
Hays HS volleyball players endure alleged racial slurs
BY AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN
The Hays High School’s volleyball team traveled to Canyon High School for a volleyball game on Sept. 2 when Canyon students were heard yelling hateful and racial slurs at the Hays players during the varsity game, according to a news release from Hays High School. Hays parent Jennifer Gardner Price took to social media to alert the community of the issue where she recounted what happened that night. Price said the front row of Canyon’s student section yelled “the N-word (hard
R)” at her daughters and a few other teammates throughout the match. “When my daughter missed her serve, they shouted ‘Make a play N-word-hard R!’” Price said in a Facebook post. Price said their coaches told Canyon administration, but all the administration did was tell the boys to watch their
KYLE HOSTS HEROES MEMORIAL PARK CEREMONY ON 9/11 – PAGE 12
mouths — no one was removed from the game. “The boys were not kept away from our team after the game and they were allowed to continue to heckle the girls on their way out. An SRO had to escort our team out to their bus,” Price said. “My girls are destroyed and I am freaking pissed.” On Sept. 6, Hays CISD Superintendent Dr. Eric Wright released a statement that said Hays High School was proud of their volleyball athletes for their “brave action in confronting hate and for their maturity in handling a situation to which no student should ever be subjected.”
“Hays CISD district athletics personnel and team leadership have formally reported the matter to Comal ISD,” Wright’s email said. According to the email, Comal ISD’s superintendent has assured Hays CISD that the district is taking the matter seriously. The team met and chose not to do individual interviews but let their statement stand for the entire group in solidarity. The Hays Hawks volleyball team issued a statement on Sept. 6, where they expressed that there was an insufficient response by the on-duty Canyon administrator.
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“We also feel that not enough was done to remedy the situation after our coaching staff brought the incident to the attention of the Canyon High School administrator on duty,” the statement said. “It is unfortunate that our voices and concerns were not fully trusted, heard, and respected because adults did not hear the comments - only student-athletes heard. If the students involved could not be identified at that moment, the entire student section should have been removed.” Although the Hays Hawks believe that the
See VOLLEYBALL, page 12