Travis County Commissioners Court
Tuesday, July 20, 2010,
Item 2
>> item no. 2 to approve proclamation recognizing the retirement of vennie davis in criminal justice planning, justice and public safety division. This is a significant week for criminal justice planning. I have gotten to know vinny davis, from day one he was a terrific support. He's a wonderful colleague, he's a tremendous county employee, and he's just wise counsel for us in the criminal justice planning. While we're happy to see him go on to serve his higher, holier call, i'm -- holyier call, i'm sure that he will tell you about it. We have a proclamation for him as well. And thank him for his years of service. I just want to personally thank him for -- for the relationship that we have had over the last two and a half years.
>> all right.
>> and, judge, i would like to echo that. I was privileged to work with vinny when i first joined the county and he actually worked for me for a few months and that wore him out.
>> [laughter] but we've had a good friendship and he's one of the best examples, i think, of an employee dedicated, and a heart of gold and passion for what he believes in. I wish him well in his future work, which i'm passionate about as well. So thank you, vinny, for everything.
>> you're welcome.
>> so we have a proclamation. I think that you have it.
>> should i read it.
>> yes, sir.
>> it reads: whereas vinny davis has been an invaluable member of the travis county criminal justice planning team. Since july 2001. After retiring with 30 years from the texas department of transportation. And working in private industry for four years as an information technology project management consultant. Whereas vinny, a serpt phid project -- certified project manager with skills in drafting strategic performance and policy and procedure plans has provided technical assistance to each of the departments within the justice and public safety division; whereas vinny has served on the planning team for the combined transportation emergency communications center, ctec as we know it, development project and assisted with the development project plans and standard operating procedures and whereas during his tenure and most recently mr. Davis represented travis county on the following community projects and work groups, travis county sheriff's sponsored building bridges brick by brick community coalition, where he serves as leader of the adult reintegration brick three team, the central booking facility work group, the travis county alliance for a safer community where he currently serves on the executive board, the reentry round table where he has worked on various subcommittees, the community action network, where he serves on the assessment and planning committee and the public safety committee, the community justice center advisory committee where he serves as co-facilitator, the travis county community plan development teams for 2007 through 2008 and 2009 through 2010, and whereas during his time with the criminal justice planning, mr. Davis continually proved his value as a role model, a man of dedicated integrity and ethics with regard to travis county and its residents. Whereas while vinny's roots have been firmly planted in the community of bricks and mortar serving as pastor of the bastrop chapel and whereas vinny's friends and colleagues his miss his mentoring, hard work and leadership on behalf of travis county, but will really miss his ready smile and his positive outlook that have so often boosted our spirits, now therefore on this day, the travis county commissioners court and the travis county justice and public safety division would like to extend sincere gratitude to vinny for his many years of service to the travis county community and i move approval.
>> second.
>> good morning, judge, good morning commissioners. I just wanted to say thanks to travis county for the nine years that i have been employed here. Even though the managers who hired me have since gone, theresa real and donna have gone on, but i've been very fortunate to serve under roger jeffreys, cameron cobin, also danny hobby, also to the cjp team who have come to really enjoy working with. I hold that -- that people are placed in our lives for a season, some are short, long term, some are permanent, such as the one with my wife of 41 years. So she's listening so i want to give a shout out to her
>> [laughter] but -- but i have certainly -- i certainly have enjoyed the -- the -- the professionals that i have worked with in travis county. I have learned a lot. Prior to coming here, i was not in the criminal justice, i was in i.t. But i did not know all of the services that the county provides to its citizens. And i think the county needs to be applauded for the work that is done here. And people -- people of -- that you serve, especially those special populations who have need, the county does extraordinary job of trying to meet the needs of his people, so i think you yourselves needs to be applauded for that. But i will be continue working as a pastor, i have been working being a pastor, bastrop chapel, currently bastrop church for nine years. The lord has really put on my spirit that it's time for me to do more in that area. On my wall in my office, there's a -- there's a large prints that's hanging on the wall, i'm going to pass on to mr. Jeffreys. I wrote it down because i really want to read what it says. It is entitled passion. It says: there are many things in life that will catch your eye. But only a few will catch your heart. Pursue those. And that's what i will be doing.
>> [ applause ]
>> thank you. I didn't know that you had 30 years with the texas department of transportation.
>> yes, sir.
>> and --
>> i didn't either.
>> [laughter]
>> your nine years with the county must have been real easy compared to that
>> [laughter]
>> yeah, four years as a consultant between the two. So ...
>> well, we will either visit you at the church in bastrop or send you a huge contribution, with danny and roger's help there. We will miss you.
>> as a reminder, there's a reception for vinny on friday from 2:00 to 4:00. Cindy, where is it? Counseling and education services, room 105, everybody is invited.
>> well, reverend davis, whichever is your title, i think that you may answer to both. But i understand. Listen, we really are going to miss you as far as your services that you have rendered to travis county and, you know, travis county is just like a big family. And when pattern retires -- when a person retires, really the other family members within travis county really know that person contributed what they had to do as far as the well-being of the travis county family. So again we're going to miss you. I know -- are you a pastor of a church?
>> i am.
>> you are the pastor, you are going to be plenty busy, that's for sure. So you know your work is right ahead of me. But your service here is going to be surely miss. So i just want to extend that to you and thank you for your service.
>> thank you.
>> thank you.
>> all in favor? That passes by unanimous vote. Best of luck to you.
>> [ applause ]
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Last Modified:
Tuesday, July 20, 2010 1:25 PM
