The City of El Paso Employees Retirement Trust approved amendments to its personnel rules that delegate significant authority to the executive director for most personnel matters while preserving specific exceptions and oversight mechanisms, and authorized issuing an RFP for executive search services.

Robert Ashe, the trust’s executive director, said the amendments were reviewed by the Administrative Services Committee and drafted with outside counsel. The changes delegate authority to hire, terminate and negotiate employment agreements to the executive director for most positions, except for the executive director role and a grama executive director (as named in the rules), and retain a control requiring the board chair to sign employment contracts in certain cases.

Trustees asked about cross‑checks on turnover, appeals and salary controls. Staff explained that employees may appeal merit evaluations or personnel actions to the Administrative Services Committee, that merit increases are governed by personnel rules (merit increases capped at 5%), COLA decisions remain part of the board’s budget process, and employment contracts will still require board chair signature. Trustees said those cross‑checks were essential before approving the delegation.

On administrative procurement, the board authorized issuing an RFP for executive search services on Jan. 5 with selection criteria weighted across cost (40%), firm qualifications (25%), scope/capability (25%) and completeness (10%). The search committee plans to invite multiple firms but will also post the RFP publicly; staff aims to return a recommendation to the board in February and begin work in March.

Both the personnel‑rules amendment and the RFP release were moved, seconded and carried by roll call. The executive director will provide updates to the executive committee during any searches and staffing transitions.

What trustees will watch for: trustees requested regular notifications to the executive committee on any rapid turnover and affirmed that salary band changes and special payments remain subject to budgetary approval by the board.