Judge Gilbert Retires, City to Hire Gilbert Consultants

On January 29, 2019 the City of San Angelo published a video on the retirement of Municipal Court Judge Allen Gilbert after 44 years of service.  February 5, 2019 City Council recognized Judge Gilbert for his longtime service and recognized special guests

On February 19, 2019 City Council entertained "contract negotiations with court consultant" in Closed/Executive Session.  There was no report to the public after the closed session.

On March 5, 2019 City Council will consider a consent agenda item:

Consider awarding a contract to Gilbert Consultants for Municipal Court consulting services in the amount of $60,000 and authorizing the City Manager to execute all related documents (Daniel Valenzuela)

The City's purchasing department has not issued a request for bids/proposals/qualifications for Municipal Court consulting services.

The background packet indicated:

This contract is to allow Allen Gilbert to serve as a consultant to Municipal Court and to serve as an associate judge on an as needed basis. Historically, Municipal court has had two judges. Declining citations and more efficient operations of the court will allow the court to operate with one judge.

During this time of transition of the court this contract will allow the court administrator and municipal court judge to draw on the vast experience of Allen Gilbert to ensure the court continues to move forward in a professional and efficient manner.

Will Council celebrate Judge Gilbert's un-retirement?  The public deserves to know how much of Judge Gilbert's time will the court get for $60,000 and for how long as the city moves to one judge.

Update 3-10-19:  The public received no presentation by City Manager Daniel Valenzuela on the rehiring of newly retired Judge Gilbert on a contract basis.   Not one City Council member pulled the item for the public to hear. 

Update 2-19-20:  True to form Council approved rehiring Gilbert Consulting using the same wording as last year.   It passed in the Consent Agenda thus the public heard nothing on the renewal.  Not one Council member asked how the $60,000 spent benefited the city over the last year. 

Update 2-25-21:  City Council will take up a judicial consultant item in executive session in next week's meeting.  It could be the rehiring of Judge Gilbert for another year.

Update 3-12-21:  Judge Allen Gilbert will get another $60,000 contract from the City of San Angelo.  The public has not seen any information indicating the value received for this money, hours worked, cases completed, etc.

Update 3-21-22:  City Council approved another $60,000 for Gilbert Consulting.  They did so in executive session with no information on the item in the meeting background packet.  Staff did not budget this item and will use Municipal Court restricted funds for this item.

Update 2-18-23:  City Council will consider another contract with Gilbert Consulting for $36,000.  Council approved four $60,000 annual contracts since the judge's retirement in 2019.  That's a nice $240,000 post retirement gig.