The setup
A resolution for the meeting was submitted by Lee and Bastrop Mayor Lyle Nelson, per the Nov. 21 agenda. This followed Carrillo-Trevino’s annual performance review held in executive session Nov. 12, when Lee presented a memo with more than a dozen arguments against Carrillo-Trevino.
In the memo, Lee said Carrillo-Trevino’s management style focuses on “disrespect and bullying, threats, intimidation, criticism without constructiveness, playing favorites, poor communication, shift blaming, unreasonable expectations and inconsistency.”
Lee said that style impacts employee morale, productivity and the overall effectiveness of city operations.
Carrillo-Trevino indirectly responded by pointing out over a dozen city employees who attended the meeting to support her.
Originally set to happen behind closed doors, Carrillo-Trevino refuted the allegations in open session.
“I knew I didn’t do anything wrong, which is why I forced it out into the public,” Carrillo-Trevino told Community Impact.
Lee, who said she had been collecting the information since May, said during the meeting that it was “concerning” that the public knew about the memo, adding that she intended for it to be addressed in executive session.
“The city manager chose to handle the matter in a very public manner that, in my opinion, further confirms a pattern of unprofessional and unethical behavior that needs to be investigated and addressed by the council,” Lee told Community Impact.
Lee’s memo outlined claims against Carrillo-Trevino ranging from contracts related to the delay of building Wastewater Treatment Plant No. 3, to the tree-clearing by Pearl River developers and more.
In the memo, Lee said her findings justified immediately firing Carrillo-Trevino; however, if most council members disagreed, she suggested officials should address the issues with:
- A four-week suspension from both the city manager and interim Bastrop Economic Development Corporation director roles to allow the council to investigate each matter outlined and advise
- Restriction of access to City Hall during the internal investigation and confiscation of all city-owned devices to protect city records
- Restriction of access to city employees, either in person or electronically, for the duration of the investigation, except, when necessary, communication with the city attorney or mayor for official duties to safeguard employees and prevent any risk of influence over the investigative process
- Formation of an advisory committee to review the memo and make a determination as to whether the instances provided warrant disciplinary action up to and including termination based on the merits of the ethics code outlined in the memo
- Verbal and written reprimand to be permanently placed in her human resources file, a 90-day performance improvement plan, and a reduction in salary to the original contracted amount for one year
Carrillo-Trevino gave a PowerPoint presentation defending herself during the Nov. 21 meeting, noting that none of the allegations were substantiated and some were centered around things that occurred before she became city manager in October 2022.
After Carrillo-Trevino’s presentation, Lee addressed the crowd.
“The city manager was able to give y’all her whole side of the story before y’all even knew my side of the story,” Lee said. “There’s so much information in the memo that she didn’t put on the screen that you’re not going to look at because she painted this pretty picture. I would not make something up just to make the city manager look bad. I stand by what I wrote in my memo. I have an obligation when I see that something’s not right to do an investigation.”
Lee pleaded throughout the meeting for residents to read the memo in its entirety before forming an opinion.
Countless people offered their thoughts during public comment—with the majority speaking in favor of Carrillo-Trevino, often accompanied by cheers and applause.
“I need a city that functions. I need a city that works together,” said Carlos Liriano, Lost Pines Toyota owner. “We have to work together and go forward with the vision that Bastrop is great. ... We have so many more important things to do.”
Lee’s fellow council members also spoke out before voting on her resolution to investigate or terminate Carrillo-Trevino.
Council members Cynthia Meyer and John Kirkland questioned Bastrop City Attorney Alan Bojorquez about why the resolution was drafted inconsistently with Bojorquez’s previous advice to use minimal language on the agenda to protect reputations.
“It seems to violate your own advice, and I don’t get that,” Kirkland said, noting that the language was “inflammatory and alarming.”
Bojorquez said he formed the draft based on the language provided to him by Nelson and Lee, clarifying that the word choices were not his own.
“I knew something was cooking,” Carrillo-Trevino said. “When I see a resolution already drafted—that is not the standard of how we handle executive session—I knew something was cooking, and it didn’t take me long to do my homework.”
Ultimately, everyone except Lee voted to reject Lee’s request.
After the vote, Kirkland presented a motion for Carrillo-Trevino to bring back individual resolutions of support for each of the staff members mentioned in the memo.
The motion passed with Lee dissenting.
Meyer motioned for the council to formally express confidence in Carrillo-Trevino’s leadership, management and performance.
The motion passed with Lee dissenting.
“I have openly, many times, said our greatest achievement that we have had on this council since I’ve been on has been the hiring of Carrillo-Trevino,” council member Kevin Plunkett said. “When I came in here, I was in agreement with a lot of the comments that this was a giant waste of time, but I disagree now because this city has spoken loudly, and I am so proud of that.”
