GROVES, Texas — Groves City Council called for an open meeting Thursday evening to consider the separation of longtime city manager.
The council unanimously voted on a separation agreement with D.E. Sosa, who had been the city manager of Groves for nearly 20 years.
"A series of events, can't really talk about them, but Mr. Sosa offered us a package and we negotiated and we came up with a separation," said Groves Mayor Christopher Borne.
(EDITOR'S NOTE: 12News originally reported D.E. Sosa was terminated. That was based on our reporting from inside the Groves City Council meeting and subsequent interviews with Groves Mayor Chris Borne and Sosa. After 12news published the original story, Sosa reached out saying that he simply is going into retirement.)
After Thursday's meeting, Sosa remained in good spirits.
"A city manager is only as good as the people that have trust and have confidence in him and if you lose the trust and confidence of even one councilmember, ok, you need to look and see if you really need to stay here any longer," Sosa said.
Groves Fire Chief Lance Billeaud has been appointed as interim city manager.
"We needed a smooth transition on this and I think it just kind of fell on my shoulders and I just gotta do my best to fill in some big shoes," Billeaud said.
Despite the circumstances, residents and city council members showed their support for Sosa with a standing ovation at the end of the meeting.
Others voiced their frustration with how everything was handled.
"I would like y'all to take a good look in the mirror and figure it out because D's spent 20 years here, given everything he's got," said one meeting attendee.
As Sosa was leaving Groves City Hall, he told 12News he's happy to help the incoming city manager in any way that he can.
"I will be here to help Lance anytime I can, he's got my phone number and I may not be in the city manager's office, but i'm always available to whoever the city manager may be."