CAROLYN MILLER NAMED BRENHAM’S INTERIM CITY MANAGER
The City of Brenham has named an interim city manager.
After meeting for just under an hour in executive session this (Thursday) afternoon, the Brenham City Council selected Assistant City Manager and Chief Financial Officer Carolyn Miller to fill the city manager position formerly held by James Fisher, whose contract was terminated by the council last Thursday.
Miller said she is eager to start her new role.
Miller began her career at the city in 2005 and was named assistant city manager in 2015. In her role, she manages economic development, the library, tourism and marketing, finance, municipal court, strategic budgeting, human resources, purchasing and information technology.
Mayor Milton Tate said Miller’s experience makes her well-suited for this position.
Tate said the city will wait to search for further candidates as it evaluates Miller’s performance. He said if she performs well, she could be offered the position permanently.
Miller’s salary will be $153,200, plus an annual car allowance of $7,500.
Carolyn, So proud for you! Remember… You are Powerful, Beautiful, Brilliant, and Brave. Take that job to the next level!
Who gets to decide these Ungodly Salaries, My Goodness. While us peasants can barely break 30k a year in this low wage pay town. While Property value keep rising and Taxes, how just it is for the common folk in this town… Ridiculous
How do those sour grapes taste? When you complain about someone else’s salary, you’re just showing your jealousy. $160K is well within the normal range for a city Brenham’s size.
Problem is not that salary. It’s low by comparison. Problem is average worker’s salary. Per a salary website, we are at $35.9K, versus $42.7K for a similar city.
I remain unconvinced that a city manager style of city government is in its citizens’ best interest. City council members and mayors are elected by the public to represent the interests of the city, and of those who elected them. When those who are elected abdicate their responsibility and accountability to an unelected decision maker with zero ties to the people affected, the voter is no longer represented. Now, some may say that the city manager only does the bidding of the city council, which is true to some degree, I suppose, but if that is the case, why is a city manager needed at all? Others may say a city manager is hired to insulate the council from the heat generated by vastly unpopular decisions (garbagegate, firing of a well-respected public servant, closing of recycling center) carried out by the council’s puppet. The council hires a city manager to do their dirty work, then when that work is done, the council can then fire the city manager if the political winds and public opinion shift against them, thereby looking like they are sensitive to the voters’ outcries. This seems to me to be what has happened in our fair city recently. Our elected city officials need to be brought back to being held accountable to the voters for the decisions taken during their times of service, and to take responsibility for the city they were elected to represent.
Now, having said all that, I do believe that Mrs. Miller will do an excellent job, and wish her well. If a city manager type government is what must be, then I am glad she was selected. The thought I can’t shake, though, is, if she is deemed qualified to be the interim city manager now, why was she not considered before we got into this mess?
Just don’t forget…all politics is local (pun intended).. people in Brenham need someone in leadership watching out for their well being…Right now it feels that city government is tone deaf, unapproachable, and mean…Make local government partner back up with the community…we are here! Hellloiiiooo
Wait a minute???? A interim City manager making over 150K plus 7,500 for a car allowance????? Man I thought the new city council got it right last Thursday but now they took two steps back.
She was the ACM and CFO. What planet do you live on? This salary is low based on the skills and experience she has.
The city is very lucky she accepted because quite frankly she is overqualified. The financial magic she has worked by masking the mistakes of incompetent city managers of the past is something an average citizen will probably never appreciate.
She is a born leader and has many many years of private sector experience that will help the city restore a common sense approach to growing the city we all love.
I believe the citizens are ready to get back to less government, taxes and wasteful spending. Time to give more power to the people and businesses that our local government serves.
Congrats Carolyn and good luck to you and the amazing team you have built.
The last guy made $163,000 salary and had a $170,000 severance package.
Based on that math she will be less than half of the cost of the last guy on an annual basis.
I think Fischer has made more in severance than he has in actual earned compensation in the last 5 years.
She supposed to work for free? What would be an acceptable salary for stepping up and running a city?
It’s been a long time coming. Congratulations my friend.