HomeMy WebLinkAboutO-2009-3196 employment agreement/Ron Bottoms
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ORDINANCE NO. 2009- '3 l ct 0
AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF LA PORTE AND RON BOTTOMS,
FOR THE POSITION OF CITY MANAGER OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE, MAKING
VARIOUS FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE SUBJECT, FINDING
COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN MEETINGS LAW, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE
DATE HEREOF.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE:
Section 1. The City Council hereby approves and authorizes
the employment agreement with Ron Bottoms as City Manager of the
City of La Porte, in substantially the form as shown in the
document which is attached hereto and incorporated herein by this
reference. The Mayor is hereby authorized to execute such document
and all related documents on behalf of the City of La Porte. The
City Secretary is hereby authorized to attest to all such
signatures and to affix the seal of the City to all such documents.
Section 2.
The City Council officially finds, determines,
recites, and declares that a sufficient written notice of the date,
hour, place and subject of this meeting of the City Council was
posted at a place convenient to the public at the City Hall of the
City for the time required by law preceding this meeting, as
required by the Open Meetings Law, Chapter 551, Texas Government
Code; and that this meeting has been open to the public as required
by law at all times during which this ordinance and the subject
matter thereof has been discussed, considered and formally acted
upon.
The City Council further ratifies, approves and confirms
such written notice and the contents and posting thereof.
Section 3. This Ordinance shall be effective from and after
its passage and approval and it is so ordered.
PASSED AND APPROVED, this 26th day of October, 2009.
,/
CITY OF LA PORTE
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By:
Barry
Mayor
ATTEST:
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.~ City Secretary
APPROVED:
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Assistant City Attorney
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EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN
THE CITY OF LA PORTE AND RON BOTTOMS
FOR THE POSITION OF CITY MANAGER
STATE OF TEXAS
COUNTY OF HARRIS
CITY OF LA PORTE
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS
THIS AGREEMENT made and entered into this 26th day of October 26,2009, but effective as of
October 1,2009, by and between the City of La Porte Texas, a municipal corporation, hereinafter
called "Employer", and Ron Bottoms, hereinafter called "Employee", both of whom understand
as follows:
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, Employer desires to employ the services of said Ron Bottoms as Employee of the
City of La Porte, as provided by the Article III, Section 3.01 of the Charter of the City of La
Porte; and
WHEREAS, it is the desire of the governing body, hereinafter called "City Council," to provide
certain benefits, to establish certain conditions of employment, and to set working conditions of
said Employee; and
WHEREAS, Employee desires employment as Employee of said City of La Porte; and
WHEREAS, The parties acknowledge that Employee is, or will become, a member of the
International City/County Management Association (lCMA), and the Texas City Management
Association (TCMA) and that Employee is subject to the Codes of Ethics of these organizations;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, the parties agree
as follows:
Section 1: Duties
Employer hereby agrees to employ said Ron Bottoms as Employee of said Employer to perform
the functions and duties specified in said Charter of the City of La Porte and applicable provisions
of the City Code and to perform other legally permissible and proper duties and functions as the
City Council shall from time to time assign.
Section 2: Term
A. Employee agrees to remain in the exclusive employ of Employer during the term of this
agreement, and agrees not to become employed by any other employer until said termination as
hereinafter provided, except as provided in Section 9 of this agreement.
B. This Agreement shall be in effect for a single term of three (3) years, beginning on October 1,
2009, thru and including September 30,2012.
C. Nothing in this agreement shall prevent, limit or otherwise interfere with the right of the City
Council to terminate the services of Employee at any time, subject only to the provisions set forth
in Section 3 of this agreement.
D. Nothing in this agreement shall prevent, limit or otherwise interfere with the right of the
Employee to resign at any time from this position with Employer, subject only to the provisions
set forth in Section 4 of this agreement.
Section 3: Termination and Severance Pay
A. In the event Employee is terminated by the City Council during the term of this agreement and
during such time that Employee is willing and able to perform the duties under this agreement,
then in that event Employer agrees to pay Employee a lump sum cash payment equal to 4 months
aggregate salary, and benefits described as follows:
Employee shall also be compensated for all earned sick leave, vacation, holidays, and other
accrued benefits to date.
In the event Employee is terminated because of conviction of a felony or crime of moral
turpitude, then, in that event, Employer shall only be obligated to pay for all accrued benefits
hereinabove described, but shall only be obligated to pay salary up to and including the date of
termination.
B. In the event Employer at any time during the term of this agreement reduces the salary,
compensation, or other financial benefits of Employee in a greater percentage than an applicable
across-the-board reduction of all employees of Employer, or in the event Employer refuses,
following written notice, to comply with any other provisions benefiting Employee herein, or the
Employee resigns following a suggestion, whether formal or informal, by the City Council that he
resign, or the employer declines to renew the employees contract then, in that event Employee
may, at his option, be deemed to be "terminated" at the date of such reduction or such refusal to
comply within the meaning and context of the herein severance pay provision.
Section 4: Resignation
In the event Employee voluntarily resigns his position with Employer during the term of this
agreement, then Employee shall give Employer 30 days notice in advance, unless the parties
agree otherwise in writing. In this event, the severance pay provisions of Section 3 will not
apply.
Section 5: Disability
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If Employee is permanently disabled or is otherwise unable to perform his duties because of
sickness, accident, injury, mental incapacity or health for a period of four successive weeks
beyond any accrued sick leave and leave available under the Family Medical Leave Act, if any,
Employer shall have the option to terminate this agreement, subject to the severance pay
requirements of Section 3, Paragraph A.
Section 6: Salary
Employer agrees to pay Employee for his services rendered pursuant hereto, an annual base
salary of $148,950.44, payable in installments at the same time as other managerial employees of
the Employer are paid. In addition, Employer agrees to increase said base salary and/or benefits
of Employee in such amounts and to such extent as the City Council may determine that is
desirable to do so on the basis of annual salary review as a part of the annual performance
evaluation process and at any other time the City Council deems appropriate.
Section 7: Performance Evaluation
A. The City Council shall review and evaluate the performance of the Employee following the
sixth month of employment and at least once annually thereafter. Such review and evaluation
shall be in accordance with specific criteria developed jointly by Employer and Employee, and in
accordance to the provisions of the La Porte City Charter and Personnel Policies. Said criteria
may be added to or deleted from as the City Council may from time to time determine, in
consultation with the Employee. Further, the Mayor of the City of La Porte shall provide the
employee with a summary written statement of the findings of the City Council and provide an
adequate opportunity for the Employee to discuss his evaluation with the City Council.
B. Annually, the City Council and Employee shall define such goals and performance objectives
that they determine necessary for the proper operation of the City of La Porte and in the
attainment of the City Council's policy objectives and shall further establish a relative priority
among those various goals and objectives, said goals and objectives to be reduced to writing.
They shall generally be attainable within the time limitations as specified and the annual
operating and capital budgets and appropriations provided.
C. In effecting the provisions of this Section, the City Council and Employee mutually agree to
abide by the provisions of applicable law.
Section 8: Work Hours
It is recognized that Employee must devote a great deal of time outside the normal office hours to
the business of the Employer, and to that end Employee will be allowed to take time off as he
shall deem appropriate during said normal office hours.
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Section 9: Outside Activities
Employee shall not spend more than 10 hours per week in teaching, consulting or other non
Employer-connected business without the prior approval of the City Council. Employee's outside
activities shall not interfere or conflict with any duties or responsibilities required under this
agreement including the number of hours.
Section 10: Automobile
Employee's duties will require that he use his personally owned vehicle for Employer business.
Employer has recognized this by agreeing to pay to Employee $500 per month to reimburse
Employee for the business use of his vehicle. Employee shall be responsible for paying for
liability, property damage, and comprehensive insurance, and for the purchase, operation,
maintenance, repair, and regular replacement of said automobile. If, however, the destination of a
business trip exceeds a 100-mile radius from La Porte, Employee shall have the option of using a
City-owned pool vehicle for the purposes of such business travel and the City shall supply the
fuel for the City vehicle or Employee may be reimbursed for mileage beyond 100 miles at the
prevailing city mileage reimbursement rate.
Section 11 : Vacation, Sick, and Military Leave
A. Employee shall accrue and have credited to his personal account, 120 hours of vacation
annually and sick leave at the same rate as other general employees of the Employer. Said
vacation and sick leave shall be subject to provisions as outlined in Section 3 of this agreement,
upon termination of Employee. In addition, if Employee voluntarily resigns as described in
Section 4 of this agreement, Employer agrees to compensate employee for all accrued vacation
and sick leave up to and including the final date of employment. Employer agrees to credit
Employee with 120 hours of vacation leave at time of employment.
B. Employee shall be entitled to military reserve leave pursuant to Federal or State law and City
of La Porte policies.
Section 12: Health, and Life Insurance
Employer agrees to provide hospitalization, surgical, and comprehensive medical insurance and
life insurance for Employee equal to that provided all other employees of the City, and to pay the
premiums thereon on the same basis as for other employees of Employer. In addition, Employer
agrees to provide additional life insurance for Employee in the amount of$150,000.
Section 13: Retirement
Employer shall provide and pay for Employee's participation in the retirement plan of the Texas
Municipal Retirement System in a manner and rate consistent with all other employees of the
City of La Porte.
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Section 14: Dues and Subscriptions
Employer agrees to budget and to pay for professional dues and subscriptions of Employee
necessary for his continuation and full participation in national, regional, state, and local
associations and organizations necessary and desirable for his continued professional
participation, growth, and advancement, and for the good of the Employer. Said dues and
subscriptions shall include, but not be limited to, Texas City Management Association,
International City/County Management Association, and their regional and local affiliate
organizations.
Section 15: Professional Development
A. Employer hereby agree to budget for and to pay for travel and subsistence expenses of
Employee for professional and official travel, meetings, and occasions adequate to continue
professional development of Employee and to adequately pursue necessary official functions for
Employer, including but not limited to the TCMA Annual Conference, the ICMA Annual
Conference, the National League of Cities, the Texas Municipal League, and such other national,
regional, state, and local government groups and committees thereof which the Employee serves
as a member. Participation in said professional development activities shall be considered a part
of the Employee's work related duties and Employee shall not be required to use accrued leave
for such participation.
B. Employer also agrees to budget for and to pay for travel and subsistence expenses of
Employee for short courses, institutes, and seminars that are necessary for his professional
development and for the good of the Employer.
Section 16: Civic Club Membership
Employer recognizes the desirability of representation in and before local CIVIC and other
organizations, and Employee is authorized to become a member of a local civic club of his
choice, for which Employer shall pay all expenses. Employee shall report to the Employer on
each membership that he has taken out at Employer's expense.
Section 17: Indemnification
In addition to that required under state and local law, Employer shall defend, save harmless, and
indemnify Employee against any tort, professional liability claim or demand or other legal action,
whether groundless or otherwise, arising out of an alleged act or omission occurring in the
performance of Employee's duties as Employee, unless arising from Employee's willful
misconduct. Employer will compromise and settle any claim or suit and pay the amount of any
settlement or judgement rendered thereon, provided however, that any settlement shall be subject
to the review and approval by Employee.
Section 18: Bonding
Employer shall bear the full cost of any fidelity or other bonds required of the Employee under
law or ordinance by virtue of his employment.
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Section 19: Other Terms and Conditions of Employment
A. The City Council, in consultation with the Employee, shall fix any such other terms and
conditions of employment, as it may determine from time to time, relating to the performance of
Employee, provided such terms and conditions are not inconsistent or in conflict with the
provision of this agreement, the Chapter 6 of the Texas Local Government Code or other law.
B. All provisions of the City of La Porte Code of Ordinances, and regulations and rules of the
Employer relating to vacation and sick leave, retirement and pension system contributions,
holidays, and other benefits and working conditions as they now exist or hereafter may be
amended, shall also apply to Employee as they would to other employees of Employer, in
addition to said benefits enumerated specifically for the benefit of Employee except as provided
herein.
Section 20: Notices
Notices pursuant to this agreement shall be given by deposit in the custody of the United States
Postal Service, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:
(1) EMPLOYER:
Barry Beasley
Mayor
City of La Porte
604 East Fairmont Parkway
La Porte, Texas 77571
(2) EMPLOYEE:
Ron Bottoms
10454 Tree Hollow Circle
La Porte, Texas 77571
Alternatively, notices required pursuant to this agreement may be personally served in the same
manner as is applicable to civil judicial practice. Notice shall be deemed given as of the date of
personal service or as of the date of deposit of such written notice in the course of transmission in
the United States Postal Service.
Section 21: General Provisions
A. The text herein shall constitute the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof.
B. This agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of heirs at law and executors of
Employee.
C. This agreement shall become effective commencing October 1,2009.
D. If any provision, or any portion thereof, contained in this agreement is held unconstitutional,
invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this agreement, or portion thereof, shall be deemed
severable, shall not be affected, and shall remain in full force and effect.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the City of La Porte, Texas, has caused this agreement to be signed
and executed in its behalf by its Mayor, Barry Beasley, and duly attested to by its City Secretary,
and the Employee has signed and executed this agreement, both in duplicate, the day and year
first written above.
ATTEST:
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Mart a A. GIllett
City Secretary
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
~~r~
Clark T. Askins
Assistant City Attorney
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