by SEAN KIMMONS
Kyle city attorney Barney Knight, left, discusses options with outgoing city manager Tom Mattis. (Photo by Sean Kimmons)
A month after pushing Kyle City Manager Tom Mattis off the dais, the Kyle City Council voted to accept his resignation Tuesday night, but not without a cost.
The council voted 5-2 to honor Mattis’ resignation, subject to auditing and verification. Mattis would take between $200,000 to $250,000 in termination pay. Councilmembers Michelle Lopez and David Wilson dissented.
The annual salary plus benefits for Mattis is around $179,600.
Some councilmembers had begun to question Mattis and his strong leadership role in the city, with power struggles arising between the council and city manager.
Among those who approved the motion were a newly elected mayor and two new councilmembers, who helped tilt the control back into council hands as they prepare to deal with a rapidly growing city.
“I’m really appreciative of the years of work that the city manager has put into the city,” said Kyle Mayor Lucy Johnson. “I know the effort that he has exerted for his job has been tremendous.
“The city manager’s relationship with the city council is important no matter who the manager happens to be,” she continued. “Without going into great detail, I feel that the council has decided that it’s time for that relationship to come to an end.”
Mattis issued a written statement following the passed motion.
“I am very proud of our service to the city of Kyle. We made history,” he wrote of himself and fellow city staff. “Our team achieved heights never before seen in Kyle – which will never be repeated in any eight year period. I am thankful to have been given the opportunity.”
Mattis’ next step is unclear. He has applied for an open city manager position in Harlingen, Texas, according to Harlingen city officials, who didn’t say when they plan to select a candidate.
Before the vote, Councilmember Wilson spoke up for Mattis and his dealings within Kyle.
He mentioned the FM 1626 construction, along with its ongoing commercial development, as one of his successes.
“Tom was a key player, maybe the glue in making that happen,” he said. “Without that, there would be no Seton hospital.”
And with population estimates projected to surpass 90,000 residents by 2040, more than triple the current population, these types of projects seem to be just the beginning.
“I’m not in favor of accepting this motion at this particular time because I think that we have more to do,” Wilson said. “However, I fully understand that there are members of this council that feel that we need a fresh start.”
Lopez also shared her opinion of Mattis as she opposed the motion.
“I firmly believe that throughout the city manager’s tenure here in the city of Kyle, he has followed every direction that the council has put forth,” she said. “It’s about an issue of relationships. It would not be in the city’s best interest to vote for this.”
In 2002, Mattis came into a troubled city that had permitted more growth than it had the water to provide, pushing the council to impose a building moratorium while the city tried to get infrastructure under control.
City managers are frequently lighting rods for controversy, and Mattis’ strong personality gained him both supporters and enemies over his eight years – an exceptionally long term of service in a position that typically has quick turnover.
The city council plans to hold a special meeting Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. to select an interim city manager while they search for a replacement.
