Morgan Hill Community Services Director Steve Rymer received the City Council’s official blessing to be the new city manager starting Feb. 4.
All four Council members present at Wednesday’s meeting voted to approve a contract that gives Rymer a $199,500 salary, plus benefits. Councilwoman Marilyn Librers was absent from the meeting.
Rymer will replace Ed Tewes, who has served as Morgan Hill’s city manager since 2000. Tewes will remain employed at City Hall until Feb. 15 to assist with the transition to a new top staff member.
Rymer has worked for the City since 2006, overseeing recreation, parks, fire and other administrative services..
Council members Wednesday said the process of selecting Rymer as the new city manager, which started last summer and drew nearly 50 applicants, assured them that City Hall has a hard working and talented staff.
“To be able to appoint a city manager from within our own ranks, we are very lucky,” Councilmember Larry Carr said. “(It shows) we’ve done things to help people move along in their professional careers.”
Councilmember Gordon Siebert added that a survey that the Council circulated to the community during the recruitment process, asking residents what they think are the most important qualities a city manager should have, was “insightful” and helped the Council narrow down their choice.
In accepting the appointment Wednesday, Rymer praised and thanked his fellow City staff members he has worked with the last six-plus years, and he called Tewes a “great coach, mentor and leader.”
Rymer’s contract runs through June 30, 2014. His base salary is about $4,000 less than Tewes’ salary of $203,485.
The Council will save money on city manager’s expenses through the lower salary, as well as the lack of a housing allowance and home loan in his contract owing to the fact that Rymer already lives in Morgan Hill. Tewes, who did not live in Morgan Hill at the time he was hired in 2000, received a $750 monthly housing allowance as well as a $475,000 home loan from the City as part of his contract.
More savings will come from Rymer paying his employee share of CalPERS pension expenses. That amount is 8 percent of his base salary, and until now the City has paid the city manager’s CalPERS share. The City will continue to pay the employer’s share of CalPERS expenses for Rymer, which currently stands at 15.6 percent of his salary, Tewes said.
Rymer’s contract includes a $500 monthly vehicle allowance, 120 hours of administrative leave each year, up to 5 percent of salary for deferred compensation paid annually by the City, and expenses for “professional development” such as League of California Cities events and other conferences.
Rymer’s proposed contract also says the City will not reduce his salary, compensation or benefits before the contract expires June 30, 2014.
