by VERONICA GORDON
The meeting lasted past midnight, but in the end, Buda City Manager Kenneth Williams received a favorable decision from the city council Tuesday night.
Council members met in a lengthy executive session to discuss Williams’ evaluation, duties, performance, employment and compensation. When they finally emerged, the council took action. The vote was 6-1 to extend Williams’ contract for two years beyond the end date. With the contract extension, Williams, who was hired in 2008, will continue to serve until 2015. Mayor Sarah Mangham voted against the action.
“I voted with my heart and with my conscience,” Mangham said after the meeting. “It was the consensus of the council to extend the contract. However, I do understand that I am only one vote on the council.”
Mangham said there were lots of areas that Williams could be working on improving. She declined to comment further on which areas she thinks need improvement.
“Those are personnel issues that were addressed in the executive session and that’s where they need to stay,” she said.
Williams said he was pleased with the council’s decision.
“I’m excited to be staying in Buda for the next few years,” he said. “And I’m honored that the council showed their confidence in me and the staff.”
When asked about the fact that the vote wasn’t unanimous, Williams said he was grateful to be able to stay in Buda.
Williams was a finalist for the city manager position in Galveston last year, but was passed over for the job. He said he wasn’t looking for another job, but that a search firm identified him as a candidate for that position. Tuesday night he reiterated that he’s not looking for employment elsewhere.
“I have no aspirations of leaving,” he said. “My family and I love it here. And I’m excited about all the things I’m going to continue to do in Buda.”
Williams said he received feedback from council members during the executive session that he will study and work on.
Williams also noted some of his accomplishments during the past few years.
“I presented a list to the council of the highlights we’ve had,” he said.
Some of those achievements are in the areas of staffing, fiscal management and better communication with the city council.
