By HEATHER CATHLEEN COX
Staff Writer
reporter@sbnewspaper.com
Manuel Lara
In a special meeting of the San Benito City Commission on Tuesday, December 11, commissioners voted unanimously to raise City Manager Manuel Lara’s pay scale by $10,000, bringing his annual salary up to $105k.
The city manager’s duties were unaffected at this meeting. Mayor Joe H. Hernandez said, “His duties will stay the same, according to the city charter. We will discuss (future) goals and objectives in another meeting.”
For fiscal year 2012-2013, Lara budgeted for the salary of an administrative assistant, to specifically absorb some of his excess duties. Of his new assistant, Lara said on Tuesday, “Now, we’re able to respond more expediently, allowing the city secretary more time to complete her responsibilities.”
At the aforementioned meeting, called by Hernandez to specifically review Lara’s duties, the commission retired to executive session for nearly three hours before settling on the $10k raise. Hernandez said the number was a result of “meeting halfway” between what the commission had initially considered and the number Lara said he would “feel comfortable” receiving, which was $115k annually.
“It’s positive,” said Hernandez of Lara’s raise. “Everybody was in agreement to retain the city manager…now is the right time to award the manager adequate pay for a city our size.”
Lara, who had not been formally evaluated since 2009, was hired four years ago at an annual salary of $82.5k, which was raised at least twice before Tuesday night’s increase.
In addition to the $10k pay raise, Lara’s severance was upped from nine to 12 months, which means that if the city manager is released from his duties for no specific reason, he will receive one year’s salary upon leaving San Benito.
According to the mayor, Lara will not be issued a holiday-specific bonus for 2012, though the city manager will be set on a potential bonus-incentive path which begins six months from now. “If the commission sees fit in six months, in another evaluation of the city manager’s position, there will be a bonus established (for Lara),” Hernandez said.
The mayor explained that waiting nearly three years to evaluate the city manager is not an acceptable practice. Hernandez said, “There needs to be an annual evaluation for the city manager or we’re in violation of the law.”
Regarding his raise, Lara said, “We settled half way. I think we have a wonderful team with positive thinking.”
Lara spoke to the possibility of his duties changing futuristically, saying the mayor and commissioners “will share their goals with me at a later date.”
Meanwhile, Lara expressed that – with the help of his new administrative assistant – he will have more time to work at a “higher level of professionalism.” He said, “I want to continue excelling in what we do.”
This article will be published in the Dec. 16 edition of the San Benito News, or subscribe to our E-Edition by clicking here.
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IMHO, Mr. Lara is overpaid for a city this size. Harlingen recieves more than 4 times SB recieves in sales tax revenue so does Harlingen pay its CM 400K? Also, why does he need an assistant? Why doesn’t he say specifically. THere is no growth in businesses to say he is doing a fantastic job. Just an observation.
Took a drive up the Valley this weekend . . . Mercedes, Weslaco, Alamo, San Juan, Pharr . . . all growing at an astounding pace. Now for good ole San Benito . . . a new business opens up; regrettably, at the same time, two businesses close up or move elsewhere. Less sales and property taxes . . . more burden on taxpayers. No chamber of commerce director yet. Ponder this–why would anyone want to move to San Benito. Lack of growth while our neighbors grow is not “status quo”–it’s simple “regression.” Sad, sad, sad!
One only has to drive through downtown and a few of the neighborhoods to see the level of success or failure that this administration has had. Try driving Travis Street, (one block behind City Hall), from beginning to end.
Take a look behind City Hall at the parking spaces where one would normally find space for the handicapped. They are filled with City officials. Public Servants? Sure.
By the way, Mr. Crane, as I understand it, the City Administration was against the Walgreens store…that is it took so long.
“Meanwhile, Lara expressed that – with the help of his new administrative assistant – he will have more time to work at a “higher level of professionalism.” He said, “I want to continue excelling in what we do.”
Haven’t we heard this before?
O yeah, when Senor Lara wanted a second Assistant City Manager, his justification was that he needed more time to focus on obtaining more businesses for the city. Besides Wallgreens, what else have we got? Do we even have a Chinese restaurant!
He received an all-expense paid trip to China and now he got a $10,000 raise, a new administrative assistant, and a possible future bonus.
Why doesn’t the Commission throw in a chauffeured car?
I, Senor Taxpayer, would like to see the goals and accomplishments that he “met” to deserve all this “shared and published” by the city in the local media !
L L A C E R !!
Excellent reporting Ms. Heather Cathleen Cox!
Precise and to the point!
Take the week-end off!