Miscommunication In Executive Session Leaves Hays County Census Coordinator’s Position Uncertain

The Hays County Census Coordinator’s position is uncertain after a miscommunication in Hays County Commissioners’ executive session on April 21.

Jessica Mejia, Hays County Census Coordinator, was reportedly terminated by her supervisor, Director of Countywide, Tammy Crumley, and a human resources representative of the county commissioners’ decision.

Mejia was slated to provide commissioners with a presentation on the 2020 Census, Tuesday, and announce the Census Art Contest Winners of “Because I count/Porque Yo Cuento.”

However, Mejia submitted a letter to be read to the court in her absence, which described her recent work creating public service announcements and conducting outreach to hard-to-count communities.

The letter also described the unforeseen complications at the professional and personal level caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mejia’s letter stated she was informed by Crumley and a human resources representative on May 4 that she would have a couple of weeks to work before her position would be “down away” with altogether.

I was told “that I was re-hireable and not being terminated but they wanted to use the funds for marketing and more usefully,” Mejia wrote.

General Counsel Mark Kennedy noted to the court that they had not voted to terminate Mejia.

Commissioners cannot take any formal action in executive session; pursuant to the Texas Open Meetings act all formal votes must be made in open session.

Commissioner Walt Smith requested the court open executive session item 48 related to all individual positions in the Countywide Operations department for discussion in open court.

Smith said he did not want to discuss any confidential information or even the Hays County Coordinator position directly.

“I came to talk specifically about the conversation that was in the executive session last week,” Smith said.   

Smith said his hope was that since the county had gone away from general large events due to the pandemic, the county could use the funding to specifically look at more and increased outreach at a social level.

“However, if we did have events in the future that were in person, I would encourage us that Ms. Mejia was the person to do that and to maintain her employment for that,” Smith said. “What is upsetting to me is that in that executive session there was a commitment by one member of this court to notify Ms. Mejia of what our decision was. We as a court, because of the stress of this pandemic and the things that we know she had to go through which were shared with us, made it very clear that we wanted to be an avenue of assistance.”

Smith said the conversation that had been committed to by that court member had yet to happen by Mejia’s meeting with her supervisor on May 4.

Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra said during the executive session, he did state “Let’s fire her then” because he saw the effort and heard the conversation taking place.

According to Becerra, the discussion occurred shortly after commissioners made a decision regarding the Hays County Emergency Services Director’s employment.

“The tone in the tempo was bright; it was loud. It was clear,” Becerra said. “You can’t argue with feeling, but I feel that politics had taken the place of public safety.”

“Our most important asset in our county is our county employees,” Smith said. “I am very proud of the way our HR department works with people…”

Crumley said she understood the comment made in the executive session as to provide Mejia with her two weeks, which slated her last day for May 12.

“I communicated with Commissioner Ingalsbe that I did have a meeting with Mejia planned for Monday to discuss the court’s decision,” Crumley said to Becerra. “You gave me a direction to fire her. I didn’t take it as a joke or that you’re just kidding.”

“At the end of the day, there was a failure on this court,” Smith said. “An absolute, adjunct failure.”

The item and discussion is expected to return to the dais at next week’s discussion to allow Mejia an opportunity to attend.