2MEETING DATE: 12/2/2013
ITEM NO: D
°s sasos COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
DATE: November 25, 2013
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: JUDITH PROPP, TOWN ATTORNEY 14
SUBJECT: EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT FOR NEW OWN ATTORNEY
RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE THE AGREEMENT FOR EMPLOYMENT WITH ROBERT
SCHULTZ FOR APPOINTMENT TO TOWN ATTORNEY AND AUTHORIZE
THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT.
BACKGROUND:
In accordance with the Town's municipal code, Town Attorney is appointed by the Town
Council. The terms and conditions of employment historically have been set forth in an
employment agreement between the appointee and the Town. The employment
agreement is established at the time of appointment and updated periodically on an as-
needed basis.
In May 2013, Town Attorney Judith Propp notified Town Council of her plan to retire at the end
of 2013. The Town entered into an agreement on June 1, 2013 with William Avery and
Associates for the recruitment of a new Town Attorney. The recruitment process is now
complete and, the Town Council selected Robert Schultz from a pool of highly qualified
candidates for the position.
DISCUSSION:
The attached employment agreement sets forth the terms and conditions of Mr. Schultz's
appointment to the position. Under the proposed agreement, Mr. Schultz commences his
employment as the Town Attorney on December 16, 2013. The proposed annual base
salary is $185,000.
PREPARED BY: Judith Propp, Town Attorney
Reviewed by:
Manager Town
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MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: Employment Agreement for Town Attorney
November 25, 2013
CONCLUSION:
Approve the employment agreement between the Town and Robert Schultz and authorize
the Mayor to execute the agreement on behalf of the Town.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
The action is not a project defined under CEQA and no further action is required.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The adoption of this agreement results in an increase to the budget of approximately $6K
in salary and benefits for the balance of the current fiscal year ($12K annualized) and
$10,000 in relocation costs. The additional cost will be absorbed through salary savings
in the Town Attorney or Administrative Services programs or included as a budget
augmentation in the FY 2013/14 midyear budget review.
Attachment: Agreement for Employment between the Town of Los Gatos and Robert
Schultz
Distribution:
Robert Schultz
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
AGREEMENT FOR EMPLOYMENT
TOWN ATTORNEY
This Agreement is made and entered into this 2nd day of December, 2013, by and between the
Town of Los Gatos, a California municipal corporation, hereinafter referred to as "Town" and
Robert Schultz, hereinafter referred to as "Attorney."
RECITALS
A. Town desires to employ Attorney as Town Attorney to fulfill the duties set forth in
Section 2.30.505 of the Town Code of Los Gatos.
B. Attorney has the education and experience for the position and desires to accept the
appointment as Town Attorney of the Town of Los Gatos under the terms set forth herein.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals and respective and mutual
covenants herein, Town and Attorney agree as follows:
1. Appointment. Town appoints Attorney and Attorney agrees to serve as Town Attorney.
Attorney agrees to devote himself full time to the performance of the duties of Town Attorney,
unless otherwise authorized in writing by the Town Council.
2. Duties. Attorney shall perform the functions and duties of the Town Attorney as
specified under the laws of the State of California, the Los Gatos Municipal Code, and the
ordinances and resolutions of Town, and perform such other duties and functions as the Town
Council may assign from time to time. Legal services shall include, but not be limited to, the
preparation and review of ordinances, resolutions, agreements, and contracts; legal research;
attendance at Town Council meetings and other meetings upon request; rendering of legal
opinions to the Town Council and Town Manager; representation of the Town, members of the
Town Council and other Town officers and employees in claims and litigation filed by or against
the Town, except those that the Town Attorney or Town Council determine should be handled by
outside counsel; and such other legal services as may be directed by Town Council or Town
Manager. Consistent with other demands of the office, Attorney will use his best efforts to
handle general municipal and land use litigation himself to reduce costs of outside counsel.
3. Term. This Agreement shall commence on December 12, 2013 and extend indefinitely
until terminated as provided hereinafter.
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4. Compensation. Attorney shall receive the following compensation:
(a) Base Salary. Town shall pay Attorney the annual base salary of one hundred
eighty -five thousand dollars ($185,000.00) ( "Base Salary "), in installments at the same time as
other employees of Town are paid.
(b) Performance Review. The Town Council shall evaluate Attorney's performance
annually and upon completion of its annual review, if Town Council determines that Attorney's
performance is fully satisfactory (i.e. has met the performance expectations), Town Council shall
increase Attorney's compensation in an amount at least consistent with compensation increases
granted to other Town management employees. Attorney understands and agrees that he has no
entitlement to an increase in compensation. The Town Council may adjust the base salary or
provide a one -time lump sum payment, or a combination of both at the sole discretion of
Council.
(c) Furlough. Attorney will be subject to time off without pay for Town approved
furlough days.
(d) Holiday Closures. Attorney will be subject to take days off without pay during
holiday closures, but may use leave balances to avoid loss of compensation during the Town
approved closures.
(e) Auto Allowance. Attorney shall receive a monthly auto allowance of three
hundred fifty dollars ($350.00).
(f) Leave and Benefits. Except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement, in addition
to the benefits specified herein, Attorney shall receive any and all employee benefits otherwise
accorded Town's executive management employees, including without limitation paid retirement
benefits consistent with Town policy through the Public Employees Retirement System and
health benefits, and as those benefits may be changed from time to time.
(1) Vacation. As of the Attorney's commencement of employment, Attorney
shall be credited with 14 days of vacation leave, and shall thereafter be entitled to accrue and use
vacation leave at the same rate as set forth in the Town's vacation policy for management
employees.
(2) Sick Leave. As of the Attorney's commencement of employment,
Attorney shall be credited with twelve (12) days of sick leave, and shall thereafter be entitled to
accrue and use sick leave at the same rate as set forth in the Town's sick leave policy for
management employees.
(3) Administrative Leave. Attorney shall be entitled to forty (40) hours of
administrative leave per year and, shall be entitled to use administrative leave in the same
manner permitted pursuant to Town policy.
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(4) Personal Leave. Attorney shall be entitled to personal leave in the amount
up to forty (40) hours per year as determined by Town Council and, shall be entitled to use
personal leave in the same manner permitted pursuant to Town policy.
(5) Health Insurance. Town shall contribute to Attorney's health insurance
costs at the same rate as set forth in the Town's health insurance policy for management
employees.
(g) Relocation Assistance. Attorney shall be reimbursed up to $10,000 for relocation
costs only after his immediate family members have relocated to the Bay Area. Any
reimbursement shall be subject to repayment in full by Attorney to Town if he resigns prior to
July 1, 2015. No housing allowance shall be provided.
(h) Retirement. Attorney shall participate in the Town's retirement plan through
CALPERS and shall be enrolled as "Classic" status under PERS at the 2% at 60 rate and 36
months final compensation formula. Attorney shall be responsible for the employee contribution
share at the same rate pursuant to Town policy for management employees. Attorney shall also
be entitled to participate in the Town's Retiree Medical Program as made available to other
management employees.
(i) Job Related Expenses. Town shall reimburse Attorney for costs of membership in
the State Bar of California and for the reasonable costs of mandatory continuing legal education
sponsored by the League of California Cities including transportation, food, lodging, tuition, and
printed materials. Within budget limitations, the Town shall reimburse Attorney for costs of
additional professional education and membership and attendance at meetings of professional
groups such as the State Bar of California, Santa Clara County Bar Association, the League of
California Cities (Attorney's Department), the Bay Area City Attorney's Association, and Santa
Clara County City Attorney's Association or other relevant municipal law training. Attorney
shall be reimbursed for any other costs or expenses reasonably related to the performance of his
duties, subject to obtaining prior approval from the Town Manager and the Mayor.
5. Termination and Severance.
(a) Termination. This Agreement may be terminated in the following manner:
(1) By attorney providing Town sixty (60) days written notice;
(2) By majority vote of the Town Council; or
(3) At any time by other method agreed upon by both parties in writing.
(b) Severance. In the event of termination by a majority of the Town Council for
reasons other than Attorney's commission of a crime of moral turpitude or a violation of statute
or law constituting misconduct in office or disbarment from the practice of law, Town Council
will provide Attorney thirty (30) days written notice and Attorney shall be paid six (6) months of
compensation as severance. Compensation for the purpose of calculating severance shall be
attorney's based compensation as may be adjusted from time to time. Attorney shall be paid for
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accrued vacation leave, holidays, and other benefits accrued at the time of the cessation of his
duties, as part of any termination or retirement.
(c) Termination for Cause. In the event Attorney is terminated because of his
conviction of any illegal act involving a felony, personal gain, or moral turpitude, Town shall
have no obligation to pay the severance as set forth in this Agreement. In the event that Attorney
is under investigation for any of the foregoing reasons, Town may withhold all or part of such
severance pay until it is determined if charges will be filed, and if charges are filed; until final
judgment is rendered.
Notwithstanding Paragraph 4 above, Town shall not be obligated to pay, and shall not pay, any
amounts or continue any benefits under the provisions of Paragraph 4 and 5 if Attorney is
terminated as a result of a conviction of a crime involving an abuse of his office or position.
Any paid leave salary offered by Town to Attorney pending an investigation shall be fully
reimbursed by Attorney if he is convicted of a crime involving an abuse of his office or position.
For the purposes of this section, "abuse of office or position" means and is limited to the
definition under Government Code section 53243.4 including either of the following: (a) an
abuse of public authority including but not limited to waste, fraud, and violation of the law under
color of authority; or (b) a crime against public justice, including but not limited to, a crime
described in Title 7 (commencing with Section 92) of Part 1 of the California Penal Code.
6. Indemnification. Town agrees to defend, hold harmless and indemnify Attorney against
any tort, professional liability claim or demand, or other legal action, whether groundless or
otherwise, arising out an alleged act or omission occurring in the performance of Attorney's
duties. Town, at is discretion, is not required to indemnify Attorney for any illegal or criminal
acts committed by Attorney.
Other Terms and Conditions.
(a) Amendment. From time to time by mutual agreement, the Town Council and
Attorney may amend this Agreement or fix other terms and conditions of Attorney's
employment, either by written addendum attached hereto or by resolution, provided that such
amendments are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, the Town Code, or any
other law.
(b) Application of General Rules. As to any matter not expressly covered in this
Agreement, Attorney shall be subject to the same rules and policies as any other management
employee.
Notices.
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(a) Notices pursuant to this Agreement shall be given by deposit in the custody of the
United Postal Services, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:
Mayor and Town Council
Town of Los Gatos
110 E. Main Street
Robert Schultz
Town of Los Gatos
110 E. Main Street
Los Gatos, CA 95030 Los Gatos, CA 95030
(b) Notices also may be personally served in the same manner as applicable to civil
litigation practice.
(c) Notice shall be deemed given as of the date of personal service or as of the date of
deposit of such written notice in the course of transmission by the United State Postal Service.
(d) Either party hereto may change their respective address of record by providing
written notice thereof in accordance with this Section.
9. General Provisions.
(a) The text herein shall constitute the entire Agreement between the parties.
(b) No provisions of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless
such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing by the Town and the Attorney. No
waiver of either party at any time of the breach of, or lack of compliance with, any conditions or
provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed a waiver of other provisions or conditions hereof.
(c) This Agreement contains the entire agreement and understanding between the
parties and contains all of the terms and conditions of the parties' agreement and supersedes any
other oral or written negotiations, discussions, representations, or agreements. Attorney
acknowledges that he has not relied on any promises, statement, representations, or warranties
except as set forth expressly in this Agreement.
(d) This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the
respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns of the parties, provided;
however, that Attorney may not assign his obligations hereunder.
(e) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws
of the State of California, and venue for any action concerning this Agreement shall be limited to
the Superior Court for the County of Santa Clara.
(f) If any provision, or any portion thereof, contained in this Agreement is held
unconstitutional, invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this Agreement, or portion thereof,
shall be deemed severable, shall not be affected and shall remain in full force and effect.
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(g) Unless provided for otherwise by this Agreement, all provisions of the Town
Code which are applicable to the Town Attorney shall remain in full force and effect.
ATTORNEY:
Robert Schultz
TOWN OF LOS GATOS:
Steve Leonardis, Mayor
Approved As To Form:
Judith Propp, Town Attorney
ATTEST:
Clerk Administrator
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