I read with interest the article published on Dec. 4, titled “Hutchinson City Council gives City Manager 31.8% raise.” After considering the issue, I have the following thoughts:
At first, I was confounded by the vote to give the city manager, Enrico Villegas, such a large increase in compensation. I have come to believe that the city council had valid reasons for their action.
Council member Jon Richardson summarized, in a Facebook post after the vote, the factors that led to the decision to raise the city manager’s compensation to the approved level. His analysis of the decision made sense to me.
I am dismayed, however, that the council did not have an open discussion about the issue but rather approved the 2026 contract for the city manager by consent agenda without any public discussion on Dec. 2.
In my mind, that was a big mistake. If the council felt this increase was warranted, a public council discussion of the item should have occurred. No council discussion occurred, leaving the public to wonder about the council’s thoughts.
Government entities consistently assert that they are transparent, but often, reality is the opposite, and the public is left blindsided. This contract was approved without the transparency that is deserved.
I hope the council learns from this breach of public trust in transparency and conducts further important business in open discussion prior to voting on an important matter.
Ron Sellers, Hutchinson