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Council places city manager on administrative leave after executive session
Summary
Following legal and procedural debate over a prior executive-session vote on the city manager's employment, the council entered executive session and later voted to exercise the separation clause in the manager's contract and place the city manager on administrative leave effective immediately, with severance terms as stated in the contract.
After extended debate over whether a prior action concerning the city manager's employment had been properly posted and therefore valid, the Pecos City Council went into executive session under attorney consultation, real-estate and personnel exemptions. Upon returning to open session, a motion was made and carried to exercise a separation provision in the city manager's contract and place the city manager on administrative leave immediately, with the contract's severance provisions to govern.
Councilmembers argued over whether earlier executive-session language had been specific enough to support termination and whether the Open Meetings Act or contract language rendered prior votes void. Multiple councilmembers asked for legal proof and case law; city attorneys said actions can be voided if posting and language were insufficient. Ultimately the council voted to place the manager on administrative leave; the motion included immediate administrative leave and referenced contractual severance timelines.
