Former city administrator Lambert Little will receive a severance package worth more than $25,000 following action taken by the Clarendon Board of Aldermen last Tuesday, January 8.
The board met in closed session with City Attorney James Shelton for about 30 minutes before reconvening in open session to approve paying Little six months of salary in the amount of $25,000 plus continuing his life and health insurance benefits for six months for an additional $2,192.76.
The motion, unanimously approved by Aldermen Tommy Hill, Will Thompson, Jesus Hernandez, and Abby Patten, also includes a provision requiring Little to sign a release preventing him from taking legal action against the city regarding his termination.
Little’s severance package is in accordance with his employment agreement, which was obtained by an open records request filed by The Clarendon Enterprise. The employment agreement was for a term from October 25, 2010, through October 25, 2013.
The severance package is in addition to the accrued sick leave and vacation time that aldermen approved paying Little at the time of his termination last month. According to information also obtained by the Enterprise, paying the sick leave and vacation time cost the city $6,609.80, which brings the total cost of dismissing Little to $33,802.56.
Twenty-four citizens attended last week’s meeting.
In other city business, aldermen appointed Debbie Roberts to fill the vacant seat of former Alderman Terry Noble. Roberts addressed the board during public comments and asked to be considered for the job. The board also asked Sandy Skelton, whose name had been put forward by a group of Clarendon businessmen last month, to make a few remarks. After a straw vote showing Aldermen Hill, Hernandez, and Patten in favor of Roberts and Alderman Thompson in favor of Skelton, Mayor Larry Hicks called for a motion and vote, and Roberts was unanimously appointed.
Public Works Director John Molder gave an update on city projects, including installation of an effluent meter at the waste water treatment facility and a water system study being conducted by KSA Engineers. Molder recommended killing a six-inch line northwest of the City Barn that goes under the railroad tracks and has been a constant source of leaks. The line is unnecessary and eliminating it would save a lot of headaches, he said.
Following up on Molder’s remarks, Mayor Hicks said the upcoming water and street improvement project that includes a section of Sixth Street will be modified so that a new four-inch water line is run down the alley between Sixth Street and Wood Avenue which has been a chronic source of dirty water.
City Secretary Machiel Covey updated the board on the codification of city ordinances, and the mayor also reminded the board of an upcoming Texas Municipal League meeting in Amarillo.
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