By Michael V. Hannigan
For the first time in almost 20 years, Athens will have a new city administrator beginning March 30. Philip Rodriguez was hired by the City Council last week and is scheduled to take over the end of the month.
Rich Flowers did a nice job of introducing Rodriguez in a piece posted on the Athens Daily Review website last Friday, explaining:
“Philip Rodriguez of Prosper comes to the job with a mix of government experience that includes stops as city manager in Van Alstyne and Fate. He has also worked in San Antonio and the Austin suburb of Cedar Park in positions within the city government. Rodriguez was serving as a consultant for the City of Southlake when he accepted the Athens job.”
I suggest reading Rich’s story.
I received a copy of the new City Administrator’s contract yesterday in response to an open records request. Here are the details.
Compensation
According to the contract, the new City Administrator’s compensation includes:
- Base Salary: $129,000 per year.
- Vehicle Allowance: $525 per month. This money is to be “used to purchase, lease, or own, operate, and maintain a vehicle.”
- Benefits: City Administrator gets the same benefits as other city employees. The contract also says, “The City also agrees to put into force and to make required payments for long term disability coverage for Administrator. If coverage is not available through the City’s insurance carrier, the City shall reimburse the Administrator for the cost of the premiums. The City further agrees to pay the amount of premiums due for a life insurance policy in the amount of no less than … $125,000. If coverage is not available through the City’s insurance carrier, the City shall reimburse the Administrator for the cost of the premiums.”
- Leave: 15 days of vacation and 15 days of sick leave accrues annually. Vacation and sick leave accrue year-over-year, but there are limits in place in the case of termination (see below).
- Retirement: Administrator to be enrolled in the Texas Municipal Retirement System.
- Relocation Expenses: In a section called “Accountable Plan Expenses,” the city agrees to pay the Administrator $4,000 on April 1 and an additional $4,000 on Sept. 1. This money is “for commuting, temporary lodging and/or temporary housing, costs related to the lease of his current residence, and to cover all related costs to relocate him from his current residence to Athens.” … The section includes details about the Administrator providing documentation of expenses to determine if payments are taxable.
There are other, smaller items in the contract such as the city paying for professional subscriptions or dues for joining local civic organizations.
Termination and Severance
If the City Administrator is terminated, or if a majority of the City Council suggests he should resign, the contract calls for the following:
- A minimum severance payment equal to 12 months salary at the then current rate of pay.
- Payment of all unused vacation and sick leave up to 25 days of vacation and 90 days of sick leave.
- Administrator can decide to have severance paid either lump sum or paid out on the salary schedule.
If the City Administrator resigns voluntarily, he will be paid all unused vacation and sick leave up to 25 days of vacation and 90 days of sick leave.
If the City Administrator is terminated for “conviction of a felony offense … any crime involving moral turpitude, or an criminal offense above a Class C misdemeanor that would, in the judgement of the City Council, impair the ability of the Administrator to effectively executive his job,” then there is no severance.