Alice Romero and Paula Moncrief

Visiting City Hall

These past years, while Discovering Seadrift, my search has often led me to City Hall. I am always greeted by two smiling faces, Alice Romero and Paula Moncrief. They patiently help me, lead me in the right direction and answer any questions I may have; both have worked for the City of Seadrift for numerous years.

Mary Alice Romero has worked at City Hall for twenty-three years. She was born in Victoria to Augustine and Carlota Rivera and is one of six children. She moved to Seadrift with her family at the age of two and graduated from Calhoun High School in 1982.

She worked at Pic Pac (now Dick’s Food Store) when she learned of the job opening of City Clerk. She became the first Hispanic to work at City Hall on February 8, 1989 and married Ysidoro Romero on September 8, 1989.

As City Clerk, Alice is responsible for the utilities and water billing. Her favorite aspect of the job is meeting all kinds of people. She said, “I think you should treat people like you want to be treated.”

She’s learned throughout the years that things can get very political; she leaves her job at the door of City Hall and does not discuss work at home. “During an election, it’s nerve racking,” she said, “I do my job and don’t voice my personal opinion.”

Her duties are sometimes out of the norm, “Several years ago, we had to go door to door asking people various questions and fill out surveys for a grant we were applying for. I’ve even had to go and read meters!”

Much has changed in the past twenty plus years at City Hall. She remembers when the books were on a big ledger, then Paula started bringing in a new system and integrated QuickBooks. The meters are now read with hand held device. The information is then downloaded to the computer and bills are calculated electronically. The new procedures, improvement and equipment were budgeted for through the years. Prior to the upgrade there was an excess of data entry.

“One of the biggest improvements has been the way we take payments,” she said. “Now we can print a receipt and post it to the account with a computerized system. We had to hand write the customer’s receipts before.”

Alice says it’s been a good job with benefits like insurance, maternity leave and retirement after 20 years, although she doesn’t plan on leaving her close knit family anytime soon. She, City Secretary Paula Moncrief, and Terry Jones, water operator all grew up together. “We could write a book with all that goes on here.”

Paula Moncrief has worked at City Hall for sixteen years. She was born in Port Lavaca to Joe and Christine Middaugh but has lived in Seadrift all of her life. Paula graduated from Calhoun High School in 1975. She began working at City Hall in July of 1995 as the City Secretary.

Beforehand, she managed a crab plant, Bo Brooks of Texas. She had worked there for 11 years. She began packing crab meat, then went to work in the office and moved up the ladder to management. She didn’t go to work until her kids started school. In the midst she helped at the school and was a substitute teacher until she went to work at Bo Brooks.

As City Secretary, Paula’s task list includes: payroll, signs checks, file manager, attending City Council meetings, workshops, typing up the Council minutes, managing elections, taxes, and occasionally attending seminars for grants for which the city applies. She and Alice both participate in continuing education for various programs and aspects of their job. The City of Seadrift currently employs ten full-time employees.

In her department, the City has gotten more grants than in years prior. The City hires administrators, such as Grant Works, that find grants; the city then fills out paperwork needed and gathers all that is required with each particular grant. “The process is year-round,” she said. “If we aren’t applying, then we don’t get anything. It’s a lot of work.” Her desk is stacked with various grants which the City of Seadrift is currently applying for; the legality of the applications are complex.

Paula enjoys being close to home. She gets to see a lot of new people. “It’s like being at home,” she said. “I enjoy working with Alice. We’ve known each other for years. Everyday there is something new; there’s never a dull moment. They keep us on our toes and keep us busy.”

Thank you to Alice and Paula for sharing their story. I look forward to the next adventure that brings me to City Hall. Till next time.