Baldwin Park council approves employment agreement making Manuel Carrillo Jr. chief executive officer

The Baldwin Park City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to approve an employment agreement appointing Manuel Carrillo Jr. as the city’s chief executive officer, effective July 1.

City staff said Carrillo’s starting salary will be step 1 of the executive management salary schedule, $250,797.02 per year. The agreement also addresses prior vacation accruals: staff reported Carrillo had accrued 1,283 hours, which will be paid out over five years while he will start his new role with a carry-forward balance of 192 hours. Carrillo will receive benefits under the executive and unclassified managers benefits matrix in effect July 1, 2024 through July 1, 2027.

The council discussed Carrillo’s long tenure with the city before voting. Council members described Carrillo as having deep institutional knowledge from more than 30 years with the city and expressed confidence in his leadership. Mayor Rafaela Avila and multiple council members offered public congratulations at the meeting; the roll call vote was recorded as five in favor, none opposed.

City staff provided the statutorily required oral summary of compensation prior to the vote. The summary included the salary figure, the payout schedule for accrued vacation and the benefits matrix reference.

Carrillo’s appointment follows the announced retirement of the current city manager, whose departure the council recognized during the meeting. After the vote the council and staff gathered for a photograph to mark the occasion.

The council’s action was taken as a formal motion, seconded and approved in a roll-call vote recorded as 5-0. No amendments to the employment agreement were recorded at the meeting.

Carrillo’s employment agreement will take effect July 1, and the council directed staff to finalize the administrative steps to implement the compensation and payout schedule.