Tonight’s special city council session promises drama

Maricopa City Manager Kevin Evans may be looking for new work, as Maricopa City Council meets tonight to discuss a possible severance agreement.

Under the severance agreement, Evans would stay in position as city manager until a replacement is found, or until Jan. 21.

On Jan. 21, or earlier if a new manager is hired, Evans and the city would part and he would receive severance pay granting him up to a year’s pay, accrued sick and vacation time and 12 months of city benefits.

Evans makes $156,950 a year with the city of Maricopa and his severance package would grant him that same salary made in payments every two weeks until he finds a job paying a minimum of 80 percent of his previous pay.

The severance package was written into Evan’s original 3-year contract with the city and becomes effective if the city either decides to not renew his contract or terminates him.

City code requires a minimum of five votes to terminate the city manager contract, but City Attorney Denis Fitzgibbons said this action was not a termination as set forth in city code.

“Under city code this item only needs a simple 4-3 vote to pass because council is voting on an agreement different from the city manager’s employment contract,” Fitzgibbons said.

In addition to possibly taking a first step in the quest for a new city manger, the city council will vote on granting new contracts for operation of the city’s expanded bus services, which are scheduled to begin this Friday.