Council OKs contract with interim city manager

Jaster will receive a daily stipend, cellphone and car allowances

September 2, 2017 at 4:34 a.m. | Updated September 9, 2017 at 9:34 p.m.

by Karl Richter

Texarkana, Texas, City Council members and government leaders pose for a photo Thursday in City Hall. In the back row, from left, are Ward 3 Council Member Betty Williams; Kelly Brush, administrative manager of Texarkana-Bowie County Family Health Center; Ward 4 Council Member Christie Alcorn; and Communication and Economic Development Manager Lisa Thompson; center row, Ward 1 Council Member Jean Matlock; Mashell Daniel, executive director of code enforcement and inspections; and Chief Financial Officer Kristin Peeples; and in the front row is Interim City Manager Shirley Jaster.
Texarkana, Texas, City Council members and government leaders pose for a photo Thursday in City Hall. In the back row, from left, are Ward 3 Council Member Betty Williams; Kelly Brush, administrative manager of Texarkana-Bowie County Family Health Center; Ward 4 Council Member Christie Alcorn; and Communication and Economic Development Manager Lisa Thompson; center row, Ward 1 Council Member Jean Matlock; Mashell Daniel, executive director of code enforcement and inspections; and Chief Financial Officer Kristin Peeples; and in the front row is Interim City Manager Shirley Jaster.
























City Manager Compensations

The following table shows compensation, not counting benefits, paid to city managers in 22 Texas cities with populations between 30,000 and 50,000. Pay City Population $239,000 Coppell 40,342 $212,669 Grapevine 48,751 $210,000 Keller 42,907 $203,000 Leander 32,802 $196,000 Burleson 40,714 $190,000 Duncanville 39,605 $185,640 La Porte 34,654 $185,006 Wylie 44,575 $183,837 Lancaster 38,071 $181,000 Kyle 31,760 $180,000 Weslaco 37,093 $180,000 Little Elm 33,125 $180,000 Friendswood 38,479 $178,500 Galveston 48,733 $178,000 Deer Park 33,237 $174,000 Schertz 35,929 $170,601 Lufkin 36,085 $169,000 Haltom City 43,580 $163,138 Huntsville 39,795 $158,703 Texarkana 37,442 $154,289 Nacogdoches 33,868 $132,600 Del Rio 48,879 Source: Texas City Management Association's 2016-17 City Management Compensation Survey

The Texarkana, Texas, City Council has approved an employment contract with Interim City Manager Shirley Jaster.

After a closed session at the end of Monday's regular meeting, the council voted unanimously to OK the agreement, putting it into effect retroactive to Aug. 4. The contract is "temporary," but it does not specify an end date.

The city will pay Jaster a daily stipend of $155 in addition to her current salary of $110,000. She will continue to receive a monthly car allowance of $500 and a cellphone allowance of $60.66 a month.

That brings Jaster's compensation, not including benefits, to the equivalent of $158,702.92 a year.

The contract increases Jaster's pay for the third time this year. In January, she was promoted to deputy city manager, and her salary rose from $97,500 to $102,850 a year. After Jaster completed a six-month probation period in that position, her salary increased to $110,000.

Jaster's first performance evaluation is scheduled to happen by Sept. 29., and she will have one at least quarterly thereafter.

A Texarkana native and city employee for more than 25 years, Jaster has been deputy city manager for development, director of planning, director of community services, director of community and public works and assistant city manager.

The council appointed her to be interim city manager on Aug. 4, two days after former City Manager John Whitson announced his retirement.

On Twitter: @RealKarlRichter

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