HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-04-2021 Joint TC BOT MinMINUTES OF THE JOINT TOWN OF WESTLAKE TOWN COUNCIL AND WESTLAKE
ACADEMY BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING
OCTOBER 4, 2021
The Town Council of the Town of Westlake and the Board of Trustees of Westlake Academy
conducted this joint meeting at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, October 4, 2021. In order to advance
the public health goal of promoting "social distancing" to slow the spread of the Coronavirus
(COVID-19), there will be limited public access to the physical location described above. A limit
of thirty (30) seats will be available to the public on a first -come, first -serve basis. A recording
of this meeting was made and will be available to the public in accordance with the Open
Meetings Act.
PRESENT: Mayor/Board President Laura Wheat, and Town Council/Board of
Trustee members Carol Langdon, Chandrika Dasgupta, Alesa
Belvedere, and Anna White.
ABSENT: Town Council/Board of Trustee Member Rajiv Trivedi.
OTHERS PRESENT: Town Manager/Superintendent Amanda DeGan, Deputy Town
Manager Noah Simon, Assistant Town Manager Jarrod
Greenwood, Town Secretary Todd Wood, Executive Director Dr.
Mechelle Bryson, Business Manager Marlene Rutledge, Director of
Public Works & Facilities Troy Meyer, IT Director Jason Power,
Director of Community Engagement Jon Sasser, Business Manager
Marlene Rutledge, College Counselor Carl Tippen, Counselor
Lakshmi Morgan, Counselor Sarah DeRaud, PYP Principal Rod
Harding, MYP Principal Kaylene Rudd, DP Principal Dr. James
Owen, and Robin McCaffrey with Mesa Planning.
Regular Session
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Wheat called the Town Council meeting to order at 5:33 p.m.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
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3. CITIZEN COMMENTS: This is an opportunity for citizens to address the Town Council
on any matter, whether or not it is posted on the agenda.
Individual citizen comments are normally limited to three (3) minutes; however, time
limits can be adjusted by the presiding officer. The presiding officer may ask the citizen to
hold their comment on an agenda item if the item is posted as a Public Hearing. The
Town Council cannot by law take action nor have any discussion or deliberations on any
presentation made at this time concerning an item not listed on the agenda. The Town
Council will receive the information, ask staff to review the matter, or an item may be
noticed on a future agenda for deliberation or action.
No one addressed the Town Council or the Board of Trustees.
4. ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST
Director of Community Engagement Jon Sasser updated the Town Council on the
following items:
• Board of Trustees Meeting on Monday, October 4, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. in
Westlake Town Hall, Solana Terrace-Bldg.7, Suite 7100.
• Cocktails & Conversation on Tuesday, October 5, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. in Solana
Terrace-Bldg.7, First floor lounge.
• Planning & Zoning Meeting on Monday, October 11, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. in
Westlake Town Hall, Solana Terrace-Bldg.7, Suite 7100.
• New Residents Meeting on Tuesday, October 12, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. in Laura
and Doug Wheat's Home.
• Chamber Luncheon on Wednesday, October 13, 2021 at it a.m. in the Texas
Motor Speedway Club.
• Westlake Classic Car Show on Saturday, October 16, 2021 from 11:00 a.m. to
4:00 p.m., located at 2902 Sam School Road, Westlake, TX 76262.
• Vaquero/Quail Hollow Neighborhood Meeting on Tuesday, October 19, 2021
at 6:00 p.m. in Laura and Doug Wheat's Home.
• Town Council Work Session/Meeting on Monday, October 25, 2021 at 5:00
p.m. in Westlake Town Hall, Solana Terrace-Bldg.7, Suite 7100.
• Blood Drive on Saturday, October 30, 2021, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. located at
2000 Dove Road: Westlake Fire -EMS Station.
• New Residents Meeting on Tuesday, November 9, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. in Laura
and Doug Wheat's Home.
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S. PRESENTATION AND RECOGNITION OF A WESTLAKE ACADEMY STUDENT.
Dr. James Owen presented this item. He stated that this student from Westlake Academy
wrote a book that has been chosen as the winner of the Texas Choice Award for Visual
Arts. This will be published as an illustrated children's book.
6. CONSENT AGENDA: All items listed below are considered routine by the Town Council
and Board of Trustees and will be enacted with one motion. There will be no separate
discussion of items unless a Council Member or citizen so requests, in which event the
item will be removed from the general order of business and considered in its normal
sequence.
a. Consider approval of the Joint Town Council/Board of Trustee meeting minutes
from June 7, 2021.
b. Consider approval of the Joint Town Council/Board of Trustee meeting minutes
from June 17, 2021.
c. Consider Resolution 21-32, approving an Interlocal Agreement for Mutual Aid
with the City of Allen, Texas for Information Technology Services; authorizing the
Town Manager to execute the agreement; and providing an effective date.
MOTION: Council Member Langdon made a motion to approve
the consent agenda. Council Member White seconded the motion.
The motion carried by a vote of 4-0.
7. PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION OF THE WESTLAKE PUBLIC ART PROGRAM.
Prior to this presentation, Mayor Wheat commented that this discussion had ensued for
many years, and how public art was very important to the development of the
community. Mayor Wheat then noted that one of her favorite slides from the
Comprehensive Plan illustrated the forces that surrounded Westlake and wanted to
impede the development of the town, and how Westlake must use its boundaries to
define itself and its identity as a town.
Robin McCaffrey with Mesa Planning presented this item. He began by noting that
Citizens have identified the Purposes of Art as a feature of Westlake citizens have called
for a close partnership between Westlake and the larger Art Community of the
Metroplex. Mr. McCaffrey then stated that this is a partnership, and requires the
following:
• Working with Art Institutions and Galleries
• Jointly seeking opportunities for emerging talent
• Fulfilling an historic role for government
• Assuring that what is brought to Westlake meets the higher standards of
timelessness and masterpiece
Mr. McCaffrey then noted the names of the individuals on the Westlake Public Art
Committee, and the artist that had been selected for the project, Mr. Michael Singer.
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8. CONDUCT PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION OF COUNSELING FOR MENTAL
HEALTH AND SOCIAL SUPPORT.
Dr. Mechelle Bryson presented this presented this item. She began by stating Westlake
Academy's goal as an IB World School is to inspire college -bound student to achieve
their highest individual potential in a nurturing environment that fosters the traits found
in the IB Learner Profile. In doing so, the primary goal of the school counseling
program is to promote and enhance learning through academic support, developmental
responsiveness, and college and career readiness. Our counselors provide the following
services:
• Assist students in resolving academic issues;
• Assist students in developing skills to improve organization, study habits, and time
management;
• Assist students in working through personal problems that affect academics and
relationships;
• Assist students in improving social skills;
• Assist students in identifying college and career goals;
• Assist students in coping with trauma; and
• Assist families in finding community resources.
Dr. Bryson noted that the purpose of this presentation was to inform the Board of
Trustees of Westlake Academy's mental health and social counseling services. In light
of the impact of COVID-19 with students, counselors have planned a series of services
designed to support students and assist them in building healthy choices that promote
healthy lives. Dr. Bryson then showed a presentation that reviewed Westlake Academy's
counselor involvement in the new ATL and Blacksmith programs, implementation of No
Place for Hate, the Hope Squad, Sandy Hook Promise: Start with Hello program, suicide
prevention initiative, and social emotion learning initiatives.
Dr. Bryson then stated that Westlake Academy Counselors care deeply for the well-being
of students and strive daily to assist our students in living a balance life committed our
the IB learner profile.
9. CONDUCT PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION OF THE WESTLAKE ACADEMY
SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM.
Mr. Carl Tippen presented this item to the Board. He began by stating that the social
and emotional transitioning for students were taken into account with great concern.
Mr. Tippen then provided a review of these services to the Board.
10. TOWN MANAGER/SUPERINTENDENT UPDATE.
Town Manager Amanda DeGan presented this item; providing updates on the
developments that are currently in progress. She began by reminding the Board of the
presentation that was presented at the last meeting, which included COVID-19 updates
and facilities expansion at Westlake Academy.
Mrs. DeGan then noted that on September 16th, TEA guidelines changed and these
changes to the public health document was communicated to the Superintendents.
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12. EXECUTIVE SESSION
The Town Council conducted a closed session pursuant to Texas Government Code,
annotated, Chapter 551, Subchapter D for the following:
a. Section 551.071(2) — Consultation with Town Attorney on a matter in which the
duty of the attorney to the governmental body under the Texas Disciplinary
Rules of Professional Conduct of the State Bar of Texas clearly conflicts with this
chapter: Resolution No. 00-19, a Contract with Hillwood Development
Corporation Concerning the Design Engineering and Construction of the West
Side Pump Station and the Dove Road Waterline.
The Town Council convened into Executive Session at 5:01 p.m. No Executive
Session was convened during the regular meeting.
13. RECONVENE MEETING.
The Town Council reconvened from Executive Session at 5:32 p.m. to begin the regular
meeting.
14. TAKE ANY ACTION, IF NEEDED, FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS.
None.
15. RECAP AND STAFF DIRECTION.
None.
16. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS.
None.
17. ADJOURNMENT.
There being no further business before the Town Council or Board of Trustees, Mayor
Wheat asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting.
MOTION: Council Member Langdon made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Council Member White seconded the motion. The motion carried
by a vote of 4-0.
Mayor Wheat adjourned the meeting at 8:14 p.m.
ANY ITEM ON THIS POSTED AGENDA COULD BE DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION
AS LONG AS IT IS WITHIN ONE OF THE PERMITTED CATEGORIES UNDER SECTIONS
551.071 THROUGH 551.076 AND SECTION 551,087 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT
CODE.
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APPROVED BY THE TOWN COUNCIL ON FEBRUARY 28, 2022.
ATTEST: 4ALL
Laura Wheat, Mayor
Mary J. Kays nt m Tow Secretan-
I
1
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