CLEARLAKE — The Clearlake City Council approved an at-will employment agreement with Tully Clifford Tuesday for the positions of city administrator and director of the Redevelopment Agency. The contract is contingent upon Clifford”s agreement with changes made to the contract on Tuesday.
The contract was authorized on a 3-0 vote with council members Curt Giambruno and Judy Thein abstaining from the vote.
Giambruno and Thein both said they were abstaining because they had been unavailable to participate in the selection and interviewing process. However, both indicated that they would support the decision of the council as well as Clifford should he hired.
According to the contract, Clifford will be paid an annual salary of $120,000, which according to Thein does not include benefits, with a 3 percent increase on July 1, 2012 and a 5 percent increase on July 1, 2013. He will not be entitled to overtime.
A change to the contract provides Clifford with 80 hours of vacation time upon employment that must be used in the first year or it will be lost. Another change allows Clifford to begin accruing executive leave beginning July 1 rather than 40 of such being credited to him upon employment.
The contract is to begin on June 20 or soon thereafter. The agreement expires on June 30, 2014. Clifford is to be responsible for the duties and functions pertaining to the city administrator and perform other legally permissible duties and such functions as the city council shall from time to time assign. The city council shall have the authority to determine specific duties and functions which Clifford shall perform under the agreement and the means and manner in which he shall perform those duties and functions. Clifford is to agree to devote all of his business time, skill, attention and best efforts to discharge the duties and functions assigned to him by the city council.
Clifford is to receive the total benefits package in accordance with those provided to management employees. The city is to pay Clifford”s and the city”s share of the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). The retirement plan is 2 percent at 55.
Clifford is to be provided with relocation expenses not to exceed $10,000 with the provisions of receipts. The amount includes moving expenses, house-hunting, trip expenses and temporary accommodations. According to Vice Mayor Joey Luiz, Clifford will be relocating from Canada.
The agreement may be terminated by either party with 30-days written notice to the other party. If there is a termination by the city without cause Clifford would receive a lump-sum 12 weeks severance pay. In addition, he will be entitled to participate, at cost of the city, for three months following termination in the medical benefit plans if he is participating in such plans immediately preceding the date of termination.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call directly at 994-6444, ext. 14.
