ODESSA, Texas — The Odessa City Council met Tuesday evening to discuss key topics within city government, including the temporary appointment of Richard Morton as interim city manager.
Morton, who previously served as Odessa's city manager until his departure in 2017, outlined his top two priorities when asked about his plan of action.
"Priority one is talk to all the Council members. Tonight, it was more of an interview," Morton said. "They wanted to know about me, but now I need to know about them. What are their visions for Odessa? What are their dreams for Odessa? So, that will be key for me to sit down with them individually. I work for them as a group, but I need to know what they want for Odessa. And then second, I need to meet with the employees. I need to meet with the department heads."
Cal Hendrick, the newly elected Odessa mayor, along with other newly elected city council members, emphasized the importance of addressing key community issues.
Hendrick also said despite disagreements between council members, it is in the city of Odessa’s best interest to articulate its concerns.
"I think what you're going to find is a kinder, gentler council that wants to work together for the best of Odessa," Mayor Hendrick said. "And it may not always agree, but we're going to respect each other's opinions and work together to do what's best for Odessa."
The meeting served as an opportunity to address city government concerns, but also to connect with Odessa residents, as the newly elected council members participated in their first official meeting.