Oakland commission authorizes contract talks to appoint Elise Lee as town manager

The Town of Oakland commission on March 11 authorized the town attorney to negotiate an employment contract with Elise Lee as town manager, following a nomination by Mayor Shane Taylor.

Mayor Shane Taylor formally read his recommendation and the proclamation-style motion, saying, “I, Shane Taylor, by virtue of the authority vested in me as mayor of the Town of Oakland, do hereby…” and then moved “that we authorize the town attorney's office to negotiate an employment contract with Elise with the contract to specify that Elise is to be hired as town manager at the starting maximum salary of $135,000 with a 15% contribution toward retirement by the town and a vehicle allowance of $230.77 per biweekly pay period.” A second was made and the commission voted to approve the authorization.

Why it matters: The contract-authorization gives the town attorney direction to complete employment terms and return a finalized contract for execution. Commissioners and several residents expressed support during the meeting; a resident (Wachowski) spoke in favor before the formal motion.

What was approved: The commission authorized negotiation and execution of the employment contract with those compensation elements specified in the motion. The motion directed the town attorney (or mayor, as appropriate under the motion) to finalize the agreement with Elise Lee.

What happens next: The town attorney’s office will prepare the contract for review and execution consistent with the commission’s direction. The meeting record shows congratulations to Elise Lee from commissioners and staff immediately after the vote.

Attribution: Mayor Shane Taylor announced the nomination and made the motion; the text of the compensation elements above is taken verbatim from the motion read aloud at the meeting.