Kyle City Manager Scott Sellers is here to stay.
The Kyle City Council Tuesday approved a controversial employment agreement that extends City Manager Scott Sellers’ contract by a 5-1 vote. The agreement features a $14,591 salary increase, which brings Sellers’ annual base pay to $196,503.
Kyle Dist. 6 council member Daphne Tenorio, who cast the lone dissenting vote, said while she appreciates the work Sellers does, she believed the pay increase was too steep. Dist. 2 Council member Becky Selbera was not present at the meeting.
“I think that the city is absolutely, unquestionably better off by extending Mr. Sellers’ contract,” said Mayor Todd Webster.
Webster said despite some of the “negative attention” the contract provisions garnered on social media, he believes it is a reasonable employment agreement when compared to those of city managers in neighboring cities.
With the approval of the employment agreement, Sellers’ contract was extended to Dec. 31, 2019. Sellers will receive an $800 car allowance stipend in addition to his salary, a $300 increase from his previous contract. Webster pointed out the Buda and San Marcos city managers also receive an $800 car allowance.
“This is a person who is the CEO, in essence, of our city, who is in charge of all of our department heads, all of our employees, in charge of ensuring that we are spending the tax payers’ money wisely and that we’re being financially prudent ... From what I’ve seen as a council member, I’ve been very impressed by the performance of our city manager.” Mayor Pro Tem Damon Fogley
The council agreed that the employment agreement is more conventionally acceptable than the one proposed in December that would have allowed the city to purchase a $550,000 home for Sellers and future city managers to live in. Had this option been selected, Sellers’ base salary would have been reduced by $28,000.
However, after public outcry, Sellers declined the offer, saying it was too politically divisive.
“In order to retain a good city manager you have to pay money for a good city manager,” Fogley said of the employment agreement. “There are competitors out there, other cities that want good leaders and we’re seeing that all over the place. So I see it as a retention tool.”
