Council votes to hire city manager; mayor authorized to negotiate contract and conduct reference checks

The Llano City Council voted to hire a candidate for the city manager position and authorized the mayor to negotiate a contract and complete reference checks, after council members moved and seconded the action. Council discussion and later public comments summarized the search process: a committee vetted 19 applications, conducted interviews with multiple candidates, and extended at least one offer earlier in the process that was declined for personal reasons. A subsequent round of applications and interviews led to the motion and vote to hire the candidate whose name was not read into the record at the time of the motion; the mayor was authorized to negotiate contract terms and to verify references. Council and staff also clarified the role of the interim city manager, Cara, who had performed both city-manager and finance director duties while the recruitment continued. Public statements from council noted that organizational-chart and pay-scale changes are part of the ongoing budget process and must be brought back to council for approval. Outcome and next steps: the council’s motion passed without recorded opposition; the mayor will negotiate contract terms, staff will complete reference checks, and council will receive any proposed contract for final approval or ratification as required by city policy.