The terms of the separation agreement between former Tomball City Manager Jan Belcher and the city were released last week, and they generally reveal a clean break between the two.

Belcher voluntarily submitted her resignation to the city council Nov. 16 after it appeared to be a forgone conclusion that her employment with the city would be terminated at that meeting.

The separation agreement, in essence, replaces the contract the city previously had with Belcher that began in 2007.  That contract was set to expire in September 2010 and paid her $130,000 per year.

The new agreement calls for four more payments to Belcher over the next two months, including her regular employment gross payment for $19,373.66 on Nov. 27.

The final three payments will cover Belcher’s severance pay of $130,000, plus $6,000 in insurance payments. Those payments will occur on Dec. 11 for $22,749.10, on Jan. 7 for $56,872.75 and on Jan. 8 for $56,872.79.

City Attorney Scott Bounds explained that the three-tiered payment plan was structured at his suggestion and to account for the city’s payroll program.

Bounds also said the payments were crafted to account for the agreement’s mandatory opt out clause.

“It was just a matter of convenience,” Bounds said.

The separation agreement releases Belcher and the city of all future claims and states that Belcher was to “cooperate in the transition by assisting the Mayor and city staff with imparting knowledge and history of current issues and items in progress within the City.”

Despite a tense two-month period during which Belcher’s job performance was called into question by members of council, the agreement “does not constitute an admission of liability or fault by either of the parties and is intended to amicably resolved any potential issues between the parties.”

After refusing to renew Belcher’s contract in September and after a contentious meeting in which Belcher ordered her job review to be held in public, the council was set to fire her during a Nov. 16 meeting.

Council members Mark Stoll, Bill Webb, Derek Townsend and Warren Driver each voted to put on that meeting’s agenda an item to terminate Belcher’s employment, or accept her resignation. David Quinn was the lone dissenting vote.

Meanwhile, Mayor Gretchen Fagan said she isn’t sure what direction the city will take in hiring a new city manager.

“No one’s called me about any suggestions,” she said. “I have no clue.”

Fagan added that no item has been placed on the agenda for council’s next meeting, scheduled for Dec. 7.

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