Breckenridge city commissioners approve agreement with Northrop for city manager position
By Carla McKeown/Breckenridge Texan
Without any discussion on Tuesday night, Aug. 16, the Breckenridge City Commission approved an agreement with Cynthia Northrop for the City Manager position for a salary of $120,000 per year, plus various benefits. She is expected to start working in Breckenridge on Sept. 12.
There were no citizens signed up to speak to the commission at the meeting, which started at 5:31 p.m.
According to Interim City Manager Steve Norwood, the proposed salary and benefits come to about $8,000-$9,000 more than former City Manager Ericka McComis was making when she resigned in June; McComis is now the Town Administrator in Argyle. Norwood said the amount is about what it was expected that McComis would have been making had she stayed in Breckenridge long enough to get a standard salary increase.
The employment agreement with Northrop, who was not at the meeting, includes $500 per month as a car allowance and $100 per month as compensation for the use of her personal cell phone for city manager duties. Additionally, she will be reimbursed for up to $5,000 in moving expenses, and the City will provide an apartment at the City’s expense for her use for up to three months.
As a comparison, here are some salaries of city managers in several Texas communities:
City Manager Salaries in Texas
| City | Population | City Mgr. Salary | Date Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowie | 5,534 | $104,330 | 2/3/2022 |
| Breckenridge | 5,868 | $120,000 | 8/16/2022 |
| Jacksboro | 4,511 | $100,455 | 2/9/2022 |
| Josephine | 4,565 | $110,000 | 2/8/2022 |
| Joshua | 8,370 | $120,000 | 2/8/2022 |
| Lakeside | 2,120 | $111,644 | 2/3/2022 |
| Lake Worth | 5,000 | $170,000 | 2/7/2022 |
| Lamesa | 9,461 | $105,000 | 3/21/2022 |
| Muleshoe | 5,158 | $110,427 | 2/3/2022 |
| Olney | 3,285 | $65,000 | 2/3/2022 |
| Quinlan | 1,535 | $110,933 | 3/3/2022 |
| Sunnyvale | 8,062 | $200,664 | 3/9/2022 |
| Vidor | 10,958 | $99,750 | 2/4/2022 |
| Brownwood | 19,288 | $149,949 | 4/8/2022 |
| Merkel | 2,643 | $62,475 | 2/3/2022 |
| Idalou | 2,342 | $72,000 | 2/3/2022 |
Northrop resigned from the City of Rhome City Administrator position on Aug. 4 and received $125,000 in severance pay and other payments. Additionally, she accepted a consulting position with the City of Rhome for $50 per hour.
Click the following links to read the previous Breckenridge Texan articles about the recent search for a new city manager:
Breckenridge City commissioner resigns in midst of meeting about city manager
Breckenridge City Commission splits vote to hire new city manager
Norwood told the commissioners that nothing had changed with the employment agreement since they had discussed it at their last meeting on Aug. 9. After his comments, Mayor Bob Sims asked if there was any discussion. When there was not, he asked for a motion. Commissioner Vince Moore made the motion to approve the agreement, and Commissioner Gary Mercer seconded the motion. The two of them, along with Sims and Mayor Pro Tem Rob Durham voted to approve the agreement within four minutes of the start of the meeting.
Following the vote, the meeting moved into the budget workshop, which consisted of Norwood explaining the various elements of the proposed budget. One of the main points he made is that the proposed budget includes raises, ranging from 3 percent to more substantial increases, for all employees.
“This city is in very strong financial condition,” Norwood said. “We just need to keep it that way.”
Durham voiced his support for the proposed budget, but no one else discussed the proposed budget, and the meeting was adjourned at 6:01 p.m.
Interim City Manager Steve Norwood talks to the Breckenridge City Commissioners about the proposed budget for the 2022-2023 fiscal year during Tuesday night’s meeting. He said the proposed budget includes a 3 percent raise for all employees and an even larger increase for some. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
Cutline, top photo: The Breckenridge City Commission met on Tuesday, Aug. 16, and approved an employment agreement with Cynthia Northrop for the City Manager position. Pictured, from left, are Commissioners Gary Mercer and Vince Moore, Mayor Bob Sims, Mayor Pro Tem Rob Durham, Interim City Manager Steve Norwood, City Secretary Jessica Sutter and Public Works Director Houston Satterwhite. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
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