Council approves severance carve‑out and revised employment agreement for city manager

Groves City Council approved two interrelated personnel items on July 28: a separated severance agreement for the city manager and a revised employment agreement that will continue to operate on the council’s employment cycle.

Council members discussed the action as a response to pending state statutory changes scheduled to take effect in September that would limit severance provisions if agreements were renewed after the effective date. City staff explained the council’s approach was to place the existing severance terms on a nonrenewing (carved‑out) agreement so the current terms remain unchanged, while the employment agreement would continue on its routine renewal cycle.

Staff stated the arrangement results in “net zero” change to the severance terms; council voted by roll call to approve both the severance carve‑out and the revised employment agreement. No further details of the severance amount were stated on the record during the open session; staff said the action preserves the city manager’s existing severance terms by moving them to a separate nonrenewing instrument prior to the statutory change.