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May 4, 2018 • Local News

El Paso Times: El Paso City Attorney, Sylvia Borunda Firth, to get $251,000 payout after retiring suddenly

City Attorney Sylvia Borunda Firth, who last week suddenly announced that she would resign her position, will receive about $251,000 for her departure, documents obtained through the Texas Public Information Act show.

The separation agreement established between Mayor Dee Margo and Borunda Firth states she is entitled to six months pay, or $124,379, as outlined in her employment contract.

Borunda Firth will also receive $127,115 for unpaid sick leave through May 17 and the city will pay additional vacation time she earns through May 31, her official date of departure. She also will remain on the city’s health insurance program until about 186 hours, or 23 days, of accrued vacation time have been exhausted, documents show.

The city announced Borunda Firth's departure last week, calling it a retirement. Borunda Firth, who earned a salary of $243,000 last year, was not present at City Council meetings on Monday and Tuesday. 

According to the separation agreement, the City of El Paso and Borunda Firth agreed to a joint press release announcing her departure.

The separation agreement goes on to say that future press releases about her departure must be approved in advance by Borunda Firth and any requests for comment from the media will be directed to the City Manager who "agrees to provide positive responses to any requests."

City Rep. Alexsandra Annello said she has concerns about the terms of the agreement because the City Council was not included in the process.

“I’ve had a lot of questions about it. Was it a resignation? Was it a retirement?” Annello said. “I understand her being paid out for her vacation time, that’s standard, but I don’t understand the severance pay part.”

Annello also said the City Council has not had an opportunity to discuss the retirement or agreement because an item would have to be placed on an agenda during a public meeting. Some council members expressed surprise last week when they learned from media that Borunda Firth was stepping down. 

According to the City Charter, the city attorney may be removed by a resolution approved by a majority vote of the total membership of the City Council. The charter does not mention if the same rules apply to a resignation or retirement.

City Council will meet May 14 to discuss the selection of an interim city attorney.

The El Paso Times requested the separation agreement on the day Borunda Firth's departure was announced. City officials provided the documents Friday after saying that  a member of the City Council potentially leaked the agreement to KTSM, which reported details of the contract Friday morning.

Margo and city Reps. Cassandra Hernandez Brown, Claudia Ordaz Perez, Michiel Noe, Peter Svarzbein, Sam Morgan and Cissy Lizarraga could not immediately be reached for comment Friday.

This story will be updated.

https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/local/2018/05/04/el-paso-city-attorney-sylvia-borunda-firth-receive-large-payout-sudden-retirement/580684002/

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