Coming off a monthlong break, the Council slid back into taking care of business at the Monday, Aug. 2 meeting. But it was not necessarily a happy reunion; councilors exchanged heated words with the city’s Chief Administrative Officer David Campbell about a four-year contract that would pay Mayor Richard Berry’s labor negotiator $110,000 annually. In a battle of wills, Campbell (the voice of the Berry administration) repeatedly implored the Council to approve the contract. “This Council has approved outside legal contracts for far more money and much less consequence than this critical contract,” Campbell said. “I strongly urge you to approve this contract.” Several of the councilors said they were not happy with the labor negotiating company Management Associates. They said they did not think the company is needed in city relations with seven unions representing 4,850 employees. “It is not the group I have a problem with, it is with the results,” Councilor Rey Garduño said during a fervid head-to-head with Campbell. Councilors did not approve spending the bucks. Campbell said this put the city in a difficult position, and the administration will be back to revisit this issue.
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