The Llano City Council voted to proceed with hiring steps for a new city manager and authorized the mayor to negotiate a contract with the chosen candidate; the action followed lengthy council discussion and statements from staff about a multi-month vetting process.

Council recorded a motion to hire and directed the mayor to negotiate terms with the selected candidate; the motion carried on a voice vote. The council had earlier met in multiple special and budget meetings and discussed forming a selection committee that included staff, citizens and councilmembers. Council and staff said the committee vetted 19 applications, conducted multiple interview rounds, and that some candidates were not deemed hireable after background checks or because they lacked municipal experience.

Kara (spelled 3Cara7 in parts of the record) was appointed as temporary interim city manager on June 30 and was paid an additional $5,000 per month while performing both city manager and finance director duties, staff and council said. Council members clarified there were no council-imposed restrictions voted that would reduce her authority as interim city manager; staff said she has since stepped down from some finance duties as the process continues.

Council and staff described tensions around an organizational chart and pay-scale updates that arise during budget season. Staff said the organizational chart is a 3living document7 that must be approved by council, and that proposed changes affect headcount and salary projections in the fiscal-year budget. Staff also reported that the city has had seven city managers in the last 24 years, with several serving only short terms; council said it seeks a longer-term hire rather than a 3stepping stone.7

Councilmembers asked that any proposed pay-scale changes, new positions and headcount be presented with related budget impacts; staff said several budget workshops were held to gather council direction, and that a proposed payroll and organizational chart will be included in the budget documents for council consideration. Several members of the public urged transparency and careful vetting of the hire and budget decisions.