City Manager Jill Ingram, who recently resigned, will get $140,000 separation pay, according to the separation agreement. (See page 1 for the update on her immediate successor.) The severance pay is equivalent to six months of her base pay, according to the separation agreement.
Ingram recently resigned, effective midnight, Oct. 31, according to the separation agreement. The city attorney announced that the council accepted her resignation on Monday, Aug. 12. (See “Ingram resigns” at sunnews.org.)
The Sun requested a copy of the agreement through the California Public Records Act on Tuesday, Aug. 13. The city released the document on Tuesday, Aug. 20, after the Sun’s editorial deadline.
In addition to her severance pay, Ingram will be reimbursed for her legal costs up to $10,000, according to the agreement. She will also receive 12 months of benefits, according to the document.
The document was signed by Ingram and District Four Council Member/Mayor Schelly Sustarsic on Monday, Aug. 12.
This agreement apparently won’t effect the city’ manager’s retirement benefits, according to July 2020 California Public Employees’ Retirement System circular letter on “Special Compensation.”
“Final settlement pay in any form is not reportable to CalPERS for classic or PEPRA members,” according to CalPERS.
Ingram will also receive her sick leave and vacation money.
“In addition, Employer shall pay Employee for the full amount of her sick leave, paid at the full rate of her base salary (“Leave Payout”),” according to the separation agreement.
“Employee shall receive a cash payment for all unused vacation accrued through Separation Date,” according to the separation agreement.
“Employee’s attorney shall provide Employer with an invoice reflecting the total amount of attorney’s fees, and a Form W-9,” according to the separation agreement.
“Employee understands that the terms of this Agreement are not effective until eight (8) calendar days after its execution,” according to the separation agreement.
“Employee acknowledges that she has been advised to consult an attorney prior to executing this Agreement and that she has been provided with adequate time to do so,” according to the separation agreement.
Neither side may speak ill of the other, according to the agreement.
“Pursuant to Employee’s Employment Agreement, Section 8.E, the City and Employee agree that no member of the City Council, nor any employee directly appointed by the City Council, shall make any written, oral, or electronic statement to any member of the public” except for the press release that the city issued on Tuesday, Aug. 13. (The Aug. 15 Sun quoted briefly from the press release, which was sent hours after the paper’s editorial deadline.) As of 10:20 a.m., Aug. 26, the city’s press release announcing Ingram’s resignation and retirement has not been posted on the city website.
The text of the announcement was spelled out in the separation agreement.
