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TEMPORARY AT-WILL EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (NON-SAFETY)
BETWEEN THE CITY OF VERNON AND
GIGI DECAVALLES-HUGHES
This Agreement is between the City of Vernon (City) and Gigi Decavalles-Hughes (Employee).
Recitals
Due to the current vacancy in the position of Director of Finance/City Treasurer City desires to employ Employee as an at-will temporary employee for a limited duration to perform extra help and special project work in the position of Interim Director of Finance/City Treasurer.
Employee desires to be the Interim Director of Finance/City Treasurer and acknowledges that such employment is for a limited duration and at-will. Employee possesses the specialized skills needed to perform the duties.
The City Administrator, pursuant to the authority granted by the City of Vernon Charter and City Council, agrees to hire Employee, as an at-will temporary employee, subject to the terms and conditions identified below.
AGREEMENT
Section 1: TERM
The effective date of this Agreement shall be September 4, 2024. Employee’s appointment is temporary on an as-needed basis until this Agreement is otherwise terminated pursuant to the provisions herein. Either party may terminate this Agreement pursuant to the provisions set forth below. Employee is an at-will employee and may be terminated, with or without cause, upon seven (7) calendar days written notice. Employee may resign with seven (7) days advance notice as set forth in Section 5 below.
Section 2: DUTIES
A. Due to the current vacancy in the position of Director of Finance/City Treasurer, City engages Employee as an Interim Director of Finance/City Treasurer to perform work of a limited duration for special projects and extra help beyond regular staff duties. The specialized functions and duties are included as part of the job description for the Director of Finance/City Treasurer position (Attachment “A”, incorporated herein by this reference), as the same may be modified by the City Administrator, from time to time, and to perform such other legally permissible and proper duties and functions as the City Administrator shall, from time to time, assign.
B. Employee agrees that to the best of her ability and experience that she will at all times conscientiously perform the duties and obligations required, either express or implied, by the terms of this Agreement, the ordinances, resolutions and adopted policies of the City of Vernon and the laws and regulations of the State of California and the United States.
C. As a public employee, Employee is required to work the hours and work schedule as determined by the City Administrator, and devote whatever time is necessary to Resolution No. 2024-020
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fulfill the employment responsibilities and duties as identified in this Agreement not to exceed 960 hours per fiscal year.
D. During the term of this Agreement, Employee is required to have and maintain a valid California Driver’s license.
E. Employee acknowledges that in connection with the performance of her duties, she will obtain information from City employees and third parties that is of a confidential nature.
Employee agrees that she will not disclose such confidential information other than to officers and employees of the City who have been authorized to have access to such information.
Employee further agrees that if she has a question as to the confidentiality of information obtained in the course of her employment, she will contact the City Attorney for advice.
Section 3: COMPENSATION
As compensation for the services to be rendered by Employee, City agrees to pay Employee an hourly rate of $128.2520 for hours worked, payable in biweekly installments at the same time as other employees of the City are paid and subject to customary withholding.
Employee’s salary shall be reflected in the City’s publicly available salary schedule.
Section 4: BENEFITS
This is a temporary interim position that is not eligible for any employee benefits.
Section 5: TERMINATION
A. The parties agree that this appointment is temporary, until such time as the term of the Agreement expires or is otherwise terminated.
B. Employee is a temporary, at-will employee and serves at the will and pleasure of the City Administrator and this Agreement may be terminated by the City at any time, without cause, subject to the notice requirements and conditions of Section 1.
C. The Agreement may be terminated by Employee at any time. Employee agrees to provide at least seven (7) calendar days advance written notice of the effective date of her resignation.
Section 6: GENERAL PROVISIONS
A. Notice
Any notices required by this Agreement shall be in writing and either delivered in person or by first class, certified, return receipt requested US Mail with postage prepaid. Such notice shall be addressed as follows:
TO CITY: City Administrator
City of Vernon
4305 Santa Fe Avenue
Vernon, CA 90058
TO EMPLOYEE: Gigi Decavalles-Hughes
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[Deliver to last updated address in personnel file]
B Entire Agreement
The text of this Agreement shall constitute the entire and exclusive agreement between the parties. All prior oral or written communications understanding or agreements between the parties, not set forth herein, shall be superseded in total by this Agreement. No Amendment or modification to this Agreement may be made except by a written agreement signed by the Employee and the City Administrator and approved as to form by the City Attorney.
C Assignment This Agreement is not assignable by either the City or Employee.
D Severability
In the event that any provision of this Agreement is finally held or determined to be illegal or void by a court having jurisdiction over the parties, the remainder of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect unless the parts found to be void are wholly inseparable from the remaining portions of this Agreement.
E. Effect of Waiver
The failure of either party to insist on strict compliance with any of the terms, covenants, or conditions in this Agreement by the other party shall not be deemed a waiver of that term, covenant or condition, nor shall any waiver or relinquishment of any right or power at any one time or times be deemed a waiver or relinquishment of that right or power for all or any other time or times.
F. Jurisdiction
Any action to interpret or enforce the terms of this Agreement shall be held exclusively in a state court in Los Angeles County, California. Employee expressly waives any right to remove any such action from Los Angeles County.
G. Effective Date
This Agreement shall take effect on September 4, 2024.
[Signatures Begin on Next Page].
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the City of Vernon has caused this Agreement to be signed and executed on its behalf by its City Administrator and executed by the Employee.
City of Vernon, a California charter City and
California municipal corporation
Dated: By:
Daniel Calleros, Interim City Administrator
ATTEST:
Yonnie Parker, Deputy City Clerk A :
Zaynah N. Moussa,
City Attorney
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Resolution No. 2024-020
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ATTACHMENT A
Job Description
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Director of Finance/City Treasurer Vernon CA 1 of 2
JOB DESCRIPTION
Director of Finance/City Treasurer
Date Prepared:
Date Revised:
March 2014
October 2023
Class Code: 1210
SUMMARY: Under limited supervision, serves as the Chief Financial Officer for Citywide financial management including financial planning, forecasting, capital project financing, investment oversight, debt issuance, management of financial risks, financial operations, and financial reporting; performs complex management and technical duties as the Finance Director and City Treasurer, with responsibility for maintaining fiscal stability and safeguarding the assets of the City; provides financial advice to the City Administrator and City Council; manages assigned personnel, and assures that financial activities are in compliance with state and federal regulations, and City policies and best practices.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: -- Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include any of the following representative duties, knowledge, and skills. This is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and duties performed by incumbents of this class; employees may be assigned duties which are not listed below; reasonable accommodations will be made as required. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement and is subject to change at any time by the employer. Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:
Manages the Finance Department through effective planning and fiscal management; provides leadership, direction and guidance in financial strategies and priorities; evaluates and analyzes financial data and recommends and implements solutions; assures the financial activities and procedures are in compliance with all laws, policies, regulations, and accounting standards.
Serves as principal financial advisor to the City Council and City Administrator; provides leadership, direction, and guidance to achieve the City goals of fiscal well-being and integrity; interprets concerns, defines desired results, develops solutions, communicates status of financial issues, interprets, and explains policies and regulations, and assures the efficient delivery of high-quality financial services.
Monitors Finance Department operations and internal financial controls; assures the quality of the financial activities, services, and work products; prepares and reviews statistical analyses to evaluate trends and financial status; develops revenue and expenditure forecasts and recommends budget adjustments.
Directs, leads, and motivates the Finance staff; plans, prioritizes, and assigns tasks and projects; monitors work, develops skills, and evaluates performance; meets with team to discuss and resolve workload, special projects, quality standards, customer services, and technical issues; reviews work, verifies the accuracy of financial records, identifies corrective actions, and assures required deadlines are met.
Analyzes financial information on City operations, evaluates departments needs and goals, and recommends financial resources; reviews and monitors status reports, and recommends appropriate actions; prepares and presents financial forecasts and status reports to City Council.
Analyzes the Citys financial condition and develops plans to assure financial performance meets goals; coordinates development of City budget; monitors budget, revenue, and expenditure trends.
Directs financial reporting, preparation of financial statements, and development of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR); oversees the Citys banking, cash and debt management, bond rating, and investment activities; interprets laws, rules, regulations, and guidelines for financial procedures.
Monitors and evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery methods and procedures; monitors and evaluates workload, technical support systems, internal reporting relationships, and interagency issues; identifies opportunities for improvement, and develops recommendations.
Coordinates and resolves financial and technical issues with elected officials and outside agencies.
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Director of Finance/City Treasurer Vernon CA 2 of 2
Supports the relationship between the City of Vernon and the general public by demonstrating courteous and cooperative behavior when interacting with visitors and City staff; maintains confidentiality of workrelated issues and City information; performs other duties as required or assigned.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Education, Training and Experience Guidelines: Bachelors Degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration; AND seven years of experience managing public sector financial operations. Masters Degree in Finance or Business Administration is desirable.
Knowledge of:
City organization, operations, policies, and procedures.
Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB), Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), and Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) standards, recommended practices, and policies, rules, and regulatory reporting requirements.
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles for Public Sector financial management, including payroll, treasury, grant funds, and public debt management.
Federal and state laws and statutes governing municipal operations, public records, and open meetings.
Legal, ethical, and professional rules of conduct for municipal finance officers.
Principles and practices of administrative management, including personnel rules, procurement, contract management, risk management, and employee supervision.
Record keeping and file maintenance principles and procedures.
General ledger and account reconciliation standards.
Skill in:
Analyzing problems, defining complex issues, identifying alternative solutions, projecting consequences of proposed actions, and implementing recommendations to support goals and build the organization.
Effectively managing and leading staff, and delegating tasks and authority.
Assessing and prioritizing multiple tasks, projects and demands.
Reading, interpreting, understanding, and applying accounting standards and procedures, applicable federal and state rules and regulations, and City policies and procedures.
Analyzing City needs and prioritizing and promoting financial strategies to meet future needs.
Monitoring and interpreting financial documents and assuring compliance with all regulatory requirements governing municipal financial activities.
Analyzing financial issues, evaluating alternatives, and developing recommendations and strategies.
Using initiative and independent judgment within established procedural guidelines.
Reviewing interrelated financial and technical records and identifying and reconciling errors.
Operating a personal computer utilizing standard and specialized software.
Establishing and maintaining cooperative working relationships with co-workers.
Communicating effectively verbally and in writing.
LICENSE AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
A valid California State Drivers License is required. Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Certified Government Finance Officer (CGFO) designation is preferred.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT:
Work is performed in a standard office environment.
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