HSB seeks new city secretary, bids veteran Moore reluctant farewell this month

By Phil Reynolds

The Highlander

The City of Horseshoe Bay may not be too happy with its city secretary.

The reason: The secretary, Teresa Moore, is retiring at the end of this month after being the only city secretary in the city’s history.

Moore was named secretary in 2006, when the job of city administrator-city secretary was divided. She’s held that position ever since. In fact, even before then, she was assistant to the administrator at the municipal utility district that preceded formation of the city.

“I’ve worked with every official who’s ever been with the city,” Moore smiled.

She’s had her own impact, too.

“We’ve been very fortunate to have her,” said City Manager Stan Farmer, Moore’s boss. But although the city manager runs the city, the secretary is hired directly by the city council, and council members have named a five-member team to select Moore’s replacement. They have until the end of this month to do that if they want to make the transition seamless, although the ad in the Highlander notes that the position will be “open until filled.”

Looking back over her time with the city, Moore was unable to come up with an incident she thought was especially funny. There are a few things she’s proud of, though.

Being picked as the secretary in the first place, for instance. “I was proud that (city officials) recognized my work,” she said.

She’s also proud of having been certified in 2011 as a Texas municipal clerk. That comes through the state municipal clerks association and requires not only classroom work but attendance at several seminars.

“The trouble is, you have to schedule the seminars around your job,” Moore explained.

You also have to be recertified every five years, something she accomplished with no problem.

“I wasn’t sure I wasn’t too old to learn anything new,” laughed Moore, who isn’t all that old even now.

In her future?

More time at the lake. “That’s the reason we moved here in the first place,” she said.

More time with three grandsons, all elementary-school age.

More time with her husband. “Maybe even a little cuddling,” she smiled.

Meantime, that committee is looking for someone who thinks he or she can fill Teresa Moore’s shoes. If you think that’s you, you’ll have to be able to maintain records such as meeting minutes, ordinances, resolutions, contracts and deeds; manage the city’s records program; take care of elections, including early voting; and publish agendas and minutes of meetings and public hearings.

To apply, send a completed application to the City of Horseshoe Bay, Attn: V. Briggs, P.O. Box 7765, Horseshoe Bay, TX 78657.