Livingston reports settlement and administers oath to new city manager Jose Antonio Ramirez

The Livingston City Council announced a closed-session settlement in Madera County Superior Court case number 22CV00826 and administered the oath of office to Jose Antonio Ramirez as city manager during the council’s March 18 meeting.

Council staff reported that the settlement was approved by a majority vote of the council, 4 to 1. According to the public report, the agreement includes a $350,000 payment to plaintiffs for attorneys’ fees and related costs, a three-year employment contract for Jose Antonio Ramirez with a base salary of $190,000, and a nine-month severance provision. The settlement also calls for dismissal of the pending litigation in case number 22CV00826. A copy of the settlement agreement and employment agreement was made available upon request at the city clerk’s office, the council was told.

The council then proceeded to the public portion of the meeting, and the deputy city clerk administered the oath of office to Jose Antonio Ramirez. After taking the oath, Ramirez thanked the community and named family members, local leaders and colleagues in brief remarks: “My job fills me with great enthusiasm and joy. I'm deeply grateful and humbled by the opportunity,” he said.

The settlement terms were reported out as part of the closed-session summary; the council did not read the full contract on the record. City staff said copies of the settlement and employment agreements are available through the city clerk’s office. Council members did not identify individual yes/no voters when the closed-session vote was reported.

The council did not take additional public action tied to the closed-session report during the March 18 meeting. Ramirez’s oath and introductory remarks followed the closed-session announcement and were part of the evening’s public record.