DeSoto council approves amended employment agreement for city manager after executive session

The DeSoto City Council voted 6–1 on Aug. 19 to approve an amended and restated employment agreement with the city manager after returning from a closed executive session.

The motion approved amendments to Section 3.2 and Section 3.7 of the employment agreement to address a change in law taking effect Sept. 1, 2025, that limits severance, and to allow the city manager to receive a cost-of-living adjustment effective Jan. 1, 2025, “to be the same as any cost of living adjustments granted to all other city employees,” the motion said.

The action followed an executive session convened under Texas Government Code section 551.074 for personnel matters regarding appointment, employment and evaluation of the city manager and the city secretary. Councilman Ken Waters moved the motion to approve the amended agreement and Councilmember Deborah North seconded it. The vote was recorded by a hand count; Councilmember Leticia Hughes, Mayor Pro Tem Crystal Chisholm, Councilmember Deborah North, Mayor Rachel Proctor, Councilmember Andre Byrd Sr. and one other council member voted yes. Councilmembers Ken Waters and Perrette Parker voted no, and the mayor announced the motion passed 6–1.

Council did not discuss the specific severance amounts or other compensation figures in open session; the motion as read amended the stated contract sections to align with the impending change in law and to permit the listed cost-of-living adjustment.

The executive-session announcement that preceded the vote cited Texas Government Code section 551.074 as the basis for the closed deliberation on personnel matters. After the vote the council reconvened in open session and asked staff to document any actions taken in executive session, as required by state law.

No additional public testimony or formal amendments to the motion were offered during the open session following the executive meeting. The council’s minutes will record the approved amendment language and the roll-call results.

The approval means the city manager’s employment agreement will be modified to (1) reflect the statutory change regarding severance effective Sept. 1, 2025, and (2) permit a cost-of-living adjustment for the city manager effective Jan. 1, 2025, equal to the COLA given to other city employees. The council did not adopt auxiliary policy language or an implementation timetable in open session.