Charles “Lee” Litterell / Pauls Valley Democrat photo ________________________________________________________________________
By Pauline Masson –
During the board of aldermen meeting on Tuesday, officials are set to approve a new city administration.
Charles “Lee” Litterell has accepted the position and has entered into an agreement with the city, which was included in the October 7 meeting packet posted on the city’s website.
The agenda includes a resolution that authorizes the mayor to sign the agreement between the city and the new city administrator, already signed by Mr. Litterell.
The agenda also includes the complete text of the agreement between the City and Mr. Litterell that details the hefty pay and benefits package he will receive.
The 66-year-old Oklahoma resident will be paid $130,000 a year, plus the highest level of benefits enjoyed by and/or available to other employees, including medical insurance, three weeks vacation and one week sick leave, and “such other fringe benefits offered to other City department head employees.”
The City will also pay for the administrator’s professional dues, business and official travel, travel and subsistence expenses for short courses, institutes, and seminars that are necessary administrator’s personal development
The city will also pay for meals where city business is discussed, on approval of the mayor.
If for any reason Mr. Litterell is terminated, while he is willing and able to serve, the City agrees to pay Mr. Literell a severance pay equal to six (6) month’s salary plus paid insurance at a maximum of $1,100 a month.
Because he is expected to work beyond normal business hours, he can create his own work schedule.
The agreement gives the new administrator broad protection in the case of a lawsuit against him in the course of his duties, including paying his legal fees and granting him veto power in any discussion to settle the dispute.
The city will evaluate the administrator’s performance annually, using a process that is still to be developed.
The term of the agreement will exist with the term of the Mayor and Mr. Litterell may be reappointed by the Board with the approval of the Mayor at the time.
Mr.Litterell’s employment begins on the day the mayor signs the resolution.
Mr. Litterell’s career, as reported in South Oklahoma newspapers and radio news departments, covers a timeline of his experience as city administrator / city manager in three Oklahoma cities: Elk City, 2013 to 2020; Frederick, 2021 and Pauls Valley January 2022 to June 2024,
Prior to serving in municipal government Mr. Litterell served for 30 years as manager of the Elk City, Oklahoma Walmart Store. On retirement he was asked if he would be interested in serving as city manager to the City of Elk City.
In his introductory comments when becoming city manager for Elk City in April 2013, he touted his Walmart experience.
“I have been in the retail industry for 30 years having worked for Walmart all of these,” he said. “My store was Store of the Year five times, Regional Store of the Year three times, Divisional Store of the Year once and National Store of the Year Finalist once. I have promoted numerous hourly associates into management positions.”
In his role as a city manager, according to news reports, he faced woes not of his making, which aroused public outcries.
In Elk City, a city of 11,000, during an emergency meeting of the City Commission Thursday June 4, 2020 after meeting behind closed doors for 45 minutes, aldermen emerged to say Mr. Litterell had been terminated. The report noted that the harsh action was possibly tied to the city’s response to a broken 12” sewer line on private property, that allowed waste water to seep into a public waterway, which had arounsed citizen complaints.
In Frederick six days after he started his new job on Feb. 8, 2021 the entire town of 3,800 citizens, was thrown into a catastrophic situation when a major winter blizzard left residents without water. Mr. Litterell appealed to the public and was successful when the State of Oklahoma and the local newspaper delivered pallets of bottled water.
Mr. Litterell’s most recent assignment was in Pauls Valley, a city with a population of 5,992. He served there for two and one-half years from January 2022 to June 2024. His 2024 salary was $112,360.
Mr. Litterell’s resignation was accepted and announced by the Pauls Valley City Council following a special meeting to discuss personnel after an hour in closed meeting.
There had been some talk over the last few weeks that Litterell was on the hot seat for unspecified reasons, Barry Porterfield, Pauls Valley Democrat reported. No details on Mr. Litterell’s departure were offered, as the council provided a written statement.
“Lee expresses appreciation for the opportunity to have worked in Pauls Valley with the council and the great employees,” the council statement read. “The council wishes Lee the best and thanks him for his work and dedication.”
Mr. Litterell captured the approval of Pacifici officials from a pool of 60+ candidates for the post — 30+ when the city conducted the search and 30 when executive search firm Strategic Government Resources (SGR) was contracted to recruit candidates for the position.
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Residents who have contacted Hometown Matters about the good, bad and nettlesome issues before city government agree on one issue. Most say a savvy city administrator could realign the city on the right path for progress and good will.
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The new city manager may bring new insight to issues that have stymied the current administration, such as the shortfall in the 2026 budget – which the mayor wants aldermen to resolve on Tuesday – the controversial emergency exit at Westlake Subdivision, parking complaints on high-traffic corners, and even, how the city might use artificial intelligence (AI) to manage information.
A skilled city administrator also might be able to win the hearts and minds of citizens who criticize the operation of the Red Cedar Inn city museum and visitor center and develop a program that attracts more citizens to attend public meetings and/or to volunteer for city boards and commissions.
He (or she) might be able to create a city model that would build citizen satisfaction with city operations.
Stay Tuned.
I am happy to see that the search is now over. The question is: will this Board of Aldermen allow him to lead or be led.
What’s his job duties?????
It would be interesting to see a side by side name comparison of the two list of applicants; the original 30 and the 30 on the SGR list. Was the money spent put to good use.
I think the questions about the statements below would have been asked of applicants and see if their answers sounded promising before hiring at such a high wage and benefits.
This is a small city surrounded by other more prosperous towns .
Perhaps putting a proverbial cart before the horse?
Time will tell as once again a huge investment in Pacific history.
The reporter wrote:
A skilled city administrator also might be able to win the hearts and minds of citizens who criticize the operation of the Red Cedar Inn city museum and visitor center and develop a program that attracts more citizens to attend public meetings and/or to volunteer for city boards and commissions.
He (or she) might be able to create a city model that would build citizen satisfaction with city operations.
THIS GUY’S 66, RETIRED AFTER 30 YRS AS A WALMART EMPLOYEE.
MUNICIPAL WORK, HE’S BEEN LET GO OR RESIGNED, ALL, SEEMINGLY, SECRETIVE AND BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.
BIGSHOTS IN DINKY, PACIFIC THINK THIS RECORD IS WORTHY OF WELL OVER HIS ’24, $112,000 SALARY? WHAT’S HIS WORK RECORD? WHY WAS HE LET GO?
WHY ON EARTH WAS GSR HIRED WHICH ADVOCATES FOR DISCRIMINATORY DEI RATHER THAN COMPETENCE BASED ON MERIT? ARE YOU SERIOUS?!
WALMART’S A GLOBALIST THAT UTILIZES SLAVE LABOR TO MAXIMIZE PROFITS. IT SUBCONTRACTS, HIRING ILLEGALS BREAKING OUR LAWS. ALL THE ABOVE, ANTI AMERICAN.
SO, OUT OF 60 CANDIDATES THIS IS TOPS? 66 YRS, ‘LEADING PACIFIC INTO THE FUTURE’? THEN WHAT, GO THRU THIS ALL AGAIN IN A COUPLE YRS?
WHAT IS THIS, SOME KIND OF SICK, EXPENSIVE JOKE?