City council approves new contracts for city manager, city attorney

El Paso City Council approved an employment contract for the City Manager, and appointed Karla Nieman as City Attorney, approving an employment contract for her as well.

Mayor Dee Margo said draft documents were released as negotiations were underway.

“We have an extension to be effective June 19, 2019, at no increase in salary for our City Manager,” said Margo. “The things we added were life insurance and disability. All those other extraneous things that were released to the public are not there.”

The salary listed in the newly approved five-year contract, with an option for a two-year extension, was not disclosed.

Laura Cruz-Acosta, a spokeswoman for the city, said in order to obtain salary, contract information for both Gonzalez and Nieman, a records request needed to be made.

Council spent more than four hours in executive session prior to unanimously approving Nieman.

Representatives Cassandra Hernandez and Alexsandra Annello wanted to push the vote until January once the new council was sworn in.

“There are things I can’t come to terms with, compensations, severance,” said Rep. Hernandez. “Mr. Gonzalez, I don’t want you to feel my vote is a rejection of your performance.”