With Kent Cagle approaching the end of his third year as Killeen’s city manager, council members are expected to conduct an annual job evaluation by the end of 2022.
“The city manager’s appraisal will occur before the end of year, and these are usually conducted in a closed session,” city spokeswoman Janell Ford said in an email. “The agenda item will be posted on our website publicly.”
However, only two council meetings have been scheduled through the end of the year — on Tuesday and again on Dec. 6. Both are workshops.
“Mr. Cagle’s agreement was effective (Dec. 3, 2019) and stays effective until either the city or he terminates the contract based on the process outlined in the agreement,” Ford said. “It is not required to be renewed each year.”
In a 6-0 vote, Cagle was hired on Nov. 19, 2019, when at-large council member Jose Segarra was mayor.
“Council, at that time, decided to do one-year terms, with yearly reviews, when we hired our previous city manager, Ron Olson,” Segarra said on Monday. “This process carried over to Mr. Cagle’s contract, which both … agreed to prior to being hired.”
Olson retired on Oct. 1, 2019, after more than 40 years in public administration, including in Killeen. With 35 years of experience in government, Cagle has spent 21 of them in municipal management, including most recently in Leander.
Olson’s yearly pay was $225,000. Cagle was hired at an annual salary of $210,000.
Community Impact Newspaper of Cedar Park-Leander reported in August 2019 that Cagle filed a lawsuit against Leander seeking $1 million after he was terminated, alleging that his contract had been breached and that the city “participated in unlawful retaliation.”
According to several published reports, Leander settled with Cagle for $349,000.
In Killeen, Cagle oversees about 1,300 employees and a $265 million budget. His contract allows he and the city to terminate the agreement mutually and in writing and for the city to unilaterally end his employment “with or without good cause.”
In that instance, an employment separation requested by the city must be done with a 30-day written notice, according to the contract, and entitles Cagle to a severance agreement that includes payment equal to his annual salary and accrued but unused vacation and sick and personal leave days.
Under the Texas Public Information Act. the Herald on Tuesday requested but had not received the council’s quarterly and annual written evaluations of Cagle for the last two years.
