Quite the package, Andrew Nelson might have used an agent, for the lucrative extra benefits. AND a "golden parachute" clause!

City Manager contract
"Nelson's five year contract includes a first year salary of $355,000 dollars.

In addition to city contributions to the state retirement system as with all other city employees, the council is paying Nelson up to $5,000 a year into another designated retirement plan.

Nelson receives 30 days paid vacation per year and will be paid for any unused time when he leaves.
Other benefits includes a vehicle allowance of $700 dollars a month and the city paying for memberships in local civic clubs and organizations."

yeah this will not end well for CoB

https://wtaw.com/contract-details-for-bryans-new-city-manager/

Didn't know that a private citizen could bind a city council to a supermajority vote for an employment action ……?

If the talent and benefit to the CoB is that great, and maybe it will be, why was this needed? For a municipal employee.

"If the council wants to remove Nelson without cause, that takes a vote of six of the seven council members. Being removed without cause results in paying 20 weeks of his base salary, his health insurance for one year, and his unused vacation pay."

GSS said:

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If the talent and benefit to the CoB is that great, and maybe it will be, why was this needed? For a municipal employee.

"If the council wants to remove Nelson without cause, that takes a vote of six of the seven council members. Being removed without cause results in paying 20 weeks of his base salary, his health insurance for one year, and his unused vacation pay."

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I'm not a lawyer and admittedly haven't read the documents but it seems you answered your own question in the quoted "without cause" which to me reads "no reason to fire him but want to anyways".

Standard Texas law, nothing special. Would normally require a simple council majority, not one person's whim..

I'll preface this by saying I think Mayor Bienski was the best Mayor Bryan has ever had. But, Kevin Boriskie is definitely from the real estate realm.

https://www.bhhscaliberrealty.com/college-station/kevin-boriskie/cid-1083371

Oh man. I apologize. I forgot about the one of the 7 who is in RE. My bad and I stand corrected.

Hardly a supermajority!

Possible I'm not thinking of the correct people but just looking at current members and their Bios:

Paul Torres: Co-Owner of BenRoz Construction.
Jared Salvato: Commercial Loan Officer
James Edge: has worked in retail, homebuilding, and real estate.
Kevin Boriskie: Licensed Real Estate Agent with Berkshire Hathaway

All 4 tie into real estate and development either directly or indirectly. On top of that most all council members usually serve on the planning and zoning board before they get elected. I'm not saying any of these officials are bad people or council members but there is a definitive trend in most city councils (not just Bryan) where people tied in with real estate and development tend to run in the same circles and get elected to these types of positions. It tends to be a small club with lots of local money backing the candidates.

There are many examples all across the country of people getting elected and using the positions to help their businesses and those of their friends via the power of the office and decisions that can be made. I'm not saying that is the case for anyone on the council, but I do believe it's something that we should always keep an eye on.

GenXAg said:

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Possible I'm not thinking of the correct people but just looking at current members and their Bios:

Paul Torres: Co-Owner of BenRoz Construction.
Jared Salvato: Commercial Loan Officer
James Edge: has worked in retail, homebuilding, and real estate.
Kevin Boriskie: Licensed Real Estate Agent with Berkshire Hathaway

All 4 tie into real estate and development either directly or indirectly. On top of that most all council members usually serve on the planning and zoning board before they get elected. I'm not saying any of these officials are bad people or council members but there is a definitive trend in most city councils (not just Bryan) where people tied in with real estate and development tend to run in the same circles and get elected to these types of positions. It tends to be a small club with lots of local money backing the candidates.

There are many examples all across the country of people getting elected and using the positions to help their businesses and those of their friends via the power of the office and decisions that can be made. I'm not saying that is the case for anyone on the council, but I do believe it's something that we should always keep an eye on.

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Dang that's eye opening. Thanks for posting this.

Hmmm..... Rush Limbaugh used to illustrate the absurd, by stating something absurd.

GSS said:

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Hmmm..... Rush Limbaugh used to illustrate the absurd, by stating something absurd.

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The salary reflects the importance of the job. Every time a public servant's salary is discussed on here that salient fact is overlooked.

techno-ag said:

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Do you want the city run by some kook for 50 grand a year who will mess things up? Or do you want someone who knows what they're doing and pay them a commensurate salary?

I think Bryan has chosen wisely.

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Exactly. I know of salaries for that position in towns smaller than 10,000 population around 200k per year.

You get what you pay for.

BCSWguru said:

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would be a good time to look into who owns property out east and north of town. theyre gonna get rich.

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Why? The interstate?

I have no idea what Andrew has been making as the CEO of a multi-national company, but I would guess his salary as City Manager is far less than that. He was Mayor for several years, and I believe his salary for that gig was a whopping $10 per month. I think his deal with the city is more than fair.

EliteElectric said:

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GenXAg said:

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but they all seem to come from the real estate/development community for the most part.

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Have to push back a little against this, not a single member of council or the mayor is "from the real estate/development community". Matter of fact the only one in my memory that was from that world was Jason Bienski, who left office a decade or so ago if my memory serves me.

**eta**
sorry had to edit I can't spell for crap apparently

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James Edge was a RE agent for a decade or so after he closed his flower shop down,'

I have no issue with council persons coming from the RE industry. A good one has a feel for how changes in zoning and proposed construction will affect the nearby homeowners and the community as a whole,

woodiewood1 said:

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EliteElectric said:

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GenXAg said:

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but they all seem to come from the real estate/development community for the most part.

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Have to push back a little against this, not a single member of council or the mayor is "from the real estate/development community". Matter of fact the only one in my memory that was from that world was Jason Bienski, who left office a decade or so ago if my memory serves me.

**eta**
sorry had to edit I can't spell for crap apparently

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James Edge was a RE agent for a decade or so after he closed his flower shop down,'

I have no issue with council persons coming from the RE industry. A good one has a feel for how changes in zoning and proposed construction will affect the nearby homeowners and the community as a whole,

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Agreed. It's a far better profession for a CM than social activist or professor.

Ag97 said:

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I'd be interested if there were any other candidates and interviews? How long was the job posted before giving it to Nelson? Does seem like a pretty sweet deal but most upper administration jobs in government are. If he was the best candidate, then fine, but were there others?

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There was at least one other qualified candidate that I know of, and he asked the people he shared with not to publicize it, so I won't.

Based on those conversations it seems like the search process took at least 2 months.

He also wasn't too upset with it going to Nelson.

That's good to hear. I always like to hear there is due diligence in my government. I've never heard anything bad about Nelson, so hopefully he fulfills the role with much success.

techno-ag said:

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BCSWguru said:

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would be a good time to look into who owns property out east and north of town. theyre gonna get rich.

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Why? The interstate?

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no, east loop type stuff.