Donna restructures economic boards after city manager steps down

Just weeks after a temporary restraining order thwarted an effort by the Donna City Council to terminate the city manager, Carlos Yerena has stepped down from the position, leading the council to restructure the leadership of its economic development corporations. The council mulled the restructuring during a special meeting Tuesday afternoon — a meeting at which Yerena was present in his remaining capacity as the director of the Donna-Rio Bravo International Bridge board of directors, Mayor Rick Morales said. As city manager, Yerena was also executive director of one of the city’s two economic boards: the Donna Economic Development Corporation (EDC 4A) and the Development Corporation of Donna (EDC 4B). Yerena helmed the 4A corporation.

But the council unanimously voted to terminate his position as executive director. A subsequent suggestion from interim City Manager Frank Perez to name Jose F. Perez the new EDC 4a executive director went nowhere, however, after a member of the council asked for more time to consider Yerena’s replacement. “What does this entail? I would like to maybe take no action on this item until we discuss this a little further,” Place 2 Councilman Joey Garza Jr. said. “I don’t know how I feel about this item.” The council chose to leave the position vacant as they turned their attention to restructuring the remaining economic boards, which are comprised of a mix of councilmembers and business people. The council appointed Tony Garcia to the EDC 4A board of directors after the resignation of Javier Castillo. That board now consists of: the mayor, Place 1 Councilman Richie Moreno, as well as Tomas Marroquin, Fabian Montelongo, Adrian Rivas and Noel Ramos. As for the EDC 4B board, the council appointed Councilman Oscar Gonzales, who defeated Eloy Avila for the Place 4 seat in November.