The Safford City Council debated for about an hour during executive session of its meeting Monday night before voting to approve a contract making David Kincaid the permanent city manager.

The city had been without a permanent manager since Huey Long announced his retirement in June.

Kincaid began serving as the city’s interim manager Sept. 25. He has an extensive history working in and with government, starting with serving as the community development and planning director for the city of Douglas in 1981. He spent the last 12 years working with government while running his own consulting business, DJK Consulting LLC.

David Kincaid is officially the new Safford City manager. He has been the interim manager since September. Photo by Jon Johnson

According to his employment agreement, Kincaid will receive $122,952 in annual base pay and $9,000 ($1,500 per month for six months) for temporary housing expenses. He will also be reimbursed for any moving expenses up to $4,000 and receive $500 per month as a vehicle allowance.

A termination clause is included in the agreement that states the city will pay Kincaid a cash severance in a lump sum if he is involuntarily removed from service.

Kincaid will receive six months pay if he is fired during the first six months of service and at any time after that. The severance is to be computed at the highest salary received during his service.

That means if the City Council decided to fire Kincaid in February 2010, they would have to pay him at least $60,000 in cash to do so.

The council previously contracted with the League of Cities and Towns and paid the organization $10,000 to handle applications and solicit for the position of permanent city manager. The decision to hire Kincaid eliminated the need for the service. No other applicants were interviewed for the job.

Mayor Ron Green said he and the rest of the council are pleased with the performance of Kincaid and decided they needed to look no further.

“He’s exactly what Safford needs right now,” Green said.

Green told the Courier the most important factor of Kincaid’s background in hiring him was his extensive economic development experience. The mayor said Kincaid realizes the need for stable, positive growth without losing any quality of life and hometown feel of the community.

In other council news:

• The council voted to not award merit bonuses to city employees for the 2008/09 fiscal year.

City Manager David Kincaid previously recommended at an October council meeting to pay the employees a merit increase in a one-time payment. The council voted, however, to postpone its decision until December due to fears of dropping city revenues. At the December meeting, Kincaid changed his recommendation and asked the council not to include the raises due to the dreary state and national economic outlook.

Safford city sales tax revenues, however, were up more than half a percent during October and November versus last year’s numbers.

• The council voted unanimously to extend a memorandum of understanding agreement with Springbok Development regarding the drafting of a development agreement for the city’s golf course property. Springbok plans to eventually improve the golf course and surrounding land.

The council also approved an extension of an agreement with Thatcher that amends a previous agreement with the town in regard to its annexation of the golf course. The agreement states the two municipalities will share revenues from taxes on future projects and businesses in the golf course area. The agreement allows the entities to move forward with Springbok Development while a permanent development agreement contract is written. The Thatcher Town Council unanimously approved the agreement during its meeting Thursday night.