UPDATED 2 p.m. FRIDAY, JUNE 25: Assistant City Manager Laurie Moyer is acting city manager according to city policy, the city manager’s office said in a statement issued this morning.
“The city organization is fortunate to have skilled employees in every field. City operations will continue as usual,” Moyer said.
STAFF REPORT
The San Marcos City Council voted to terminate Rick Menchaca’s contract as city manager during a special meeting tonight, city council members have confirmed.
The 4-3 vote was taken about 9:15 p.m. in a City Hall conference room following more than two hours of discussion behind closed doors in executive session.
The meeting was posted outside City Hall by 6 p.m. Monday giving the three day public notice required by law. The meeting was also posted on the city’s website but not prominently so.
Mayor Susan Narvaiz was joined by council members Ryan Thomason, Fred Terry and Chris Jones. Council members Kim Porterfield, John Thomaides and Gaylord Bose voted against firing Menchaca, who started the job in May 2008.
Narvaiz said she could not discuss reasons for Menchca’s termination because it is a personnel matter.
According to his contract, Menchaca will be paid for unused vacation, sick leave and other benefits but otherwise will receive no severance pay, Narvaiz said. She did not know immediately how much that amounted to.
Council members chose Menchaca, who was the city manager of Midland from 2000 to 2007, from 70 applicants to lead the municipal government in 2008. Dan O’Leary vacated the city’s top administrative job in 2007 after five years in the position, later taking the city manager slot in Keller.
Menchaca’s termination follows Kyle City Manager Tom Mattis’ forced resignation in April and Pedernales Electric Cooperative General Manager Juan Garza’s termination last week.
BRAD ROLLINS is editor and publisher of the San Marcos Mercury, which broke this story. It is reprinted here through a news partnership between the Mercury and the Hays Free Press.
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