The Anaheim City Council approved an employment agreement with Paul Emery on Tuesday, solidifying his appointment as City Manager. The vote was 3 to 2 with Mayor Tom Tait and Council Member James Vanderbilt taking issue with some of the contract terms.
Per the agreement, Emery will earn a generous base salary of $290,000 and can accrue up to 800 hours of vacation time—200 more than what is allotted for other management employees. The contract also provides for a one-year severance package, which Council Member Vanderbilt unsuccessfully motioned to reduce. Both he and Mayor Tait voted against the agreement.
Emery joined Anaheim as assistant city manager in 2012 and was named Interim City Manager in February of 2014. His 25 years of experience in municipal management include work for the City of Huntington Beach, where he most recently served as deputy city manager. From 1988 until 2001 he was also involved in Santa Ana’s Public Works department. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Davis and a master’s in public administration from California State University, Fullerton.
Emery was appointed to the permanent position in a 4 to 1 vote earlier this month, with Mayor Tom Tait casting the dissenting vote. The two have often butted heads over actions affecting the city’s business community.
Emery is the fourth person to hold the position since 2011. The city’s last top administrator, Marcie Edwards, stepped down after 8 months to head the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.
Read more about Tuesday’s vote here.