HomeMy WebLinkAboutEmployment Agreement - Degeratu, Robbin - Library Director (These do not need council approval)I -
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EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT made and entered into this 18`h day of March, 2026 by
and between the WATERLOO PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES, Iowa (thereinafter called
"Employer"), and Robbin Degeratu (hereinafter called "Employee"), both who understand as follows:
WHEREAS, Employer desires and needs the services of Employee to serve in the capacity of
Library Director; and
WHEREAS, Employer desires to retain the services of Employee as Library Director; and
WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Waterloo Public Library Board of Trustees of the City of
Waterloo, Iowa (hereinafter called "Board"), to provide certain benefits, establish certain conditions of
employment, and set working conditions of said Employee; and
WHEREAS, it is the desire of Employer (1) to retain the services of Employee and to provide
inducement for her to continue to remain in such employment; (2) to establish the job duties and
responsibilities of said Employee; and (3) to provide means for terminating Employee's services when
Employer may desire to terminate her employ; and
WHEREAS, Employee desires to be employed as Library Director.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE PARTIES AGREE AS FOLLOWS:
A. Term of Agreement
1. Employee understands that she serves as Library Director at the pleasure of the Library Board
of Directors. Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent, limit or otherwise interfere with the
right of the Library Board of Directors to determine that the Employee shall no longer serve
as Library Director, subject only to the provisions set forth in this Agreement.
2. The term of this Agreement shall be for an initial period of one (1) year, from March 18th,
2026 to March 18'h, 2027.
3. This Agreement shall automatically renew on its anniversary date after the one (1) year term
has been reached and will be set on a year-to-year basis from that point forward. A thirty (30)
day notice before the expiration date of the Agreement shall be given to terminate the
Agreement.
4. In the event the Agreement is not renewed, all compensation, benefits, and requirements of
the Agreement shall remain in effect until the expiration of the term of the Agreement unless
Employee voluntarily resigns or is terminated for cause.
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5. Nothing shall prevent, limit or otherwise interfere with the right of the Employee to resign at
any time from her position with the Employer, subject only to the provisions set forth in this
Agreement.
B. Compensation
1. Base Salary: Employer agrees to pay Employee an annual base salary of $135,740.80,
payable in installments at the same time that the other management employees of the
Employer are paid. The amount of said base salary shall be set by Board resolution, which
resolution, when adopted, shall become part of this section of the Agreement.
2. This agreement shall be automatically amended to reflect any increases in salary adjustments
provided or required by the Employer's compensation policies.
3. The Employer agrees to increase the compensation by value set forth with other
non -bargaining employees.
4. Employer shall not, at any time during this Agreement, reduce the salary or other benefits of
Employee, except to the degree that such reduction occurs across-the-board for all Employees
of Employer.
C. Resignation
1. In the event Employee voluntarily resigns her position with Employer during her
employment, Employee shall give Employer sixty (60) days' written notice in advance unless
the parties otherwise agree.
2. In the event Employee voluntarily resigns her position with Employer during employment
and provides written notice, Employee shall receive payment for unused vacation, sick and
casual time and other benefits usually paid other Employees at separation pursuant to
Employer's policies and procedures, unless otherwise specified in this Agreement.
3. If Employee does not provide proper written notice and voluntarily resigns from this position
with Employer during employment, Employee shall not be entitled to receive any severance
benefits, except she shall receive payment of unused vacation, sick and casual time.
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D. Termination
1. Employer may terminate this agreement at any time for cause. If Employee is terminated for
cause, she shall receive no severance pay, except she shall receive payment for unused
vacation, sick and casual time and other benefits usually paid other Employees at termination
pursuant to the Employer's policies and procedures.
a. For purposes of this Agreement, the Term "for cause" shall mean serious misconduct,
including but not limited to conduct, whether personal or professional, that may bring
public embarrassment or disgrace to the Employer, conviction of a major violation of
law or regulations; documented unsatisfactory performance consistent with
regulations set forth in the employee handbook.
E. Severance
1. In the event Employer wishes to terminate employment without cause, it may do so by giving
the Employee thirty (30) days' notice in writing. In such event, the Employee, if requested by
the Employer, shall continue to render her services and shall be paid her regular
compensation to the date of termination per the written notice.
2. Upon termination without cause the Employee shall be entitled to ninety (90) days of
severance pay from the termination date and payment of unused vacation, sick and casual
time and other benefits usually paid other Employees at termination pursuant to Employer's
policies and procedures.
a. All health insurance benefits the Employee is participating in at the time of
separation shall also continue for ninety (90) days.
3. With respect to any severance payments made to the Employee as outlined in paragraph E 1
above, the Employer agrees to pay the Employee every two weeks equal to (90) days'
aggregate salary minus any and all applicable taxes, plus continue paid health insurance
payments for the same duration.
F. Health & Dental, Disability, Pension and Life Insurance Benefits
1. Employer will provide for leaves of absence and other benefits, including health and dental
insurance, life insurance, pension plan, and disability coverage, that are consistent with the
Employer's policies and procedures for Executive Directors.
G. Work Hours
1. This Agreement signifies that it is recognized that the Employee must devote a great deal of
her time outside of normal office hours on business on behalf of the Employer. The
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Agreement authorizes the Employee to establish an appropriate work schedule.
H. Sick, Casual, Vacation, and Holidays
1. Sick Time: Sick time will be accrued during the Fiscal Year (7/1 to 6/30). Employee will earn
eight (8) hours per month sick leave for a total of ninety-six (96) hours per year.
2. Casual Time: Employee will receive a prorated amount of eight (8) hours of casual time on
the March 18, 2026 start date. Employee will receive thirty two (32) hours of casual time on
July 1, 2026. Each year thereafter on July ls` employee will receive thirty two (32) hours of
casual time to begin the next fiscal year.
3. Vacation Time: The Employee will receive eighty (80) hours of vacation at time of hire. On
Employees vacation anniversaries year one (1) though year seven (7), Employee will receive
one hundred sixty (160) hours of vacation. Employee vacation anniversaries at eight (8) plus
years, Employee will receive two hundred (200) hours of vacation. Any unused hours from
the previous year up to eighty (80) hours will be carried over to begin the next year. During
the first year of employment if employment is terminated, any unused vacation time earned
shall be paid in proportion to the fraction of the year in which the employee was actually
employed. (Iowa Code 91A.4) After the first year of employment
4. Holidays: Eleven (11) paid holidays and a birthday are observed each calendar year under the
current Employee Handbook. Employee shall not be required to work on those days which
have been designated as holidays by the Library Board. Employee will receive eight (8)
hours of paid time off for their birthday. Employee's birthday/holiday may be scheduled on
the actual birthday, or on another mutually agreeable date after the birthday has occurred
I. Retirement
1. Employee is required to participate in the Iowa Public Employee Retirement System, a
State -administered pension plan. Currently the employee contribution rate is 6.29% of gross
wages. The City contribution rate is 9.44% of salary. These rates are subject to legislative
change.
J. General Business Expenses
1. Professional Dues and Subscriptions: Employer agrees to budget for and to pay for
professional dues and subscriptions of the Employee necessary for continuation and full
participation in national, regional, state, and local associations, and organization necessary
and desirable for the Employee's continued professional participation, growth, and
advancement, and for the good of the Employer.
a. The Employer also acknowledges the value of having Employee participate and be
directly involved in local civic clubs or organizations. Accordingly, Employer shall
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pay for the reasonable membership fees and/or dues to enable the Employee to
become an active member in said clubs or organizations.
2. Travel Expense: Employer agrees to pay for eligible and properly approved travel expenses
of Employee according to the City of Waterloo Travel Policy. Receipts for all expenses,
approved travel request forms, meeting agendas and employee expense reports and any other
documents required by policy shall be attached to payment vouchers submitted to the Finance
Department, following the City's bill payment policy. Such documents shall be submitted as
soon as possible after expenses are incurred.
a. The City agrees to reimburse the Employee for approved expenses as soon as
possible after proper documentation is provided. Reimbursement will be made in
accordance with the City's bill payment schedule.
K. Miscellaneous
1. Employee shall perform those duties as outlined in the job description and ordinances of
the City of Waterloo, which establishes the Library Director position.
2. Employee shall devote her full time and talents to the best of her ability to the best interest
of the City of Waterloo, in the discharge of her duties.
3. Employer agrees that it shall defend, hold harmless, and indemnify the Employee against any
tort, professional liability from all demands, claims, suits, actions, errors, whether groundless
or otherwise, arising out of an alleged act or omission occurring in the performance of
Employee's duties in legal proceedings brought against her in her individual capacity or in
her official capacity, provided the incident arose while she was acting within the scope of her
employment.
4. If in the good faith opinion of the Employer and Employee, conflict exists as regards to the
defense of any such claim between the legal position of the Employer and the Employee,
the Employee may engage counsel, in which event; the Employer shall indemnify the
Employee for the cost of legal counsel.
5. The Employer agrees to pay all reasonable litigation expenses of Employee throughout the
pendency of any litigation to which the employee is a party, witness or advisor to the
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Employer. Such expense payments shall continue beyond Employee's service to the
Employer as long as litigation is pending.
6. Employer agrees to pay Employee reasonable consulting fees (If the Employee is no longer
working for the Employer) and travel expenses when Employee serves as a witness,
advisor or consultant to Employer regarding pending litigation.
7. Employer shall bear the full cost of any fidelity or other bonds required of the
Employee under any law or ordinance.
8. Employer requires Employee to maintain residency in the City of Waterloo for the
duration of the Agreement but the Board can approve residency outside of the City of
Waterloo if Employee makes a request.
9. The Employer, as part of this hiring agreement, will reimburse Employee up to $8,000.00 for
relocation expenses. Employee must provide an invoice(s) detailing the expenses prior to
receiving the reimbursement.
10. General Provisions
a. Integration. This Agreement sets forth and establishes the entire understanding
between the Employer and the Employee relating to the employment of the
Employee by the Employer. Any prior discussions or representations by or between
the parties are merged into and rendered null and void by this Agreement. The parties
by mutual written agreement may amend any provision of the agreement during the
life of the agreement. Such amendments shall be incorporated and made a part of this
agreement.
b. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding on the Employer and the
Employee as well as their heirs, assigns, executors, personal representatives and
successors in interest.
c. Effective Date: This Agreement shall become effective commencing on March
18`h , 2026.
d. Severability. The invalidity or partial invalidity of any portion of the Agreement will
not affect the validity of any other provision. In the event that any provision of this
Agreement is held to be invalid, the remaining provisions shall be deemed to be in
full force and effect as if they have been executed by both parties subsequent to the
expungement or judicial modifications of the invalid provision.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the City of Waterloo has caused this Agreement to be signed
and executed as duly authorized by City Council Resolution, and duly attested by the City
Clerk.
CITY OF WATERLOO
EMPLOYEE
Byt wdV' Date? j�
y(1w By. U� Dater
Cindy Wells, resident Library Board of Directors Robbin Degeratu
ATTEST:
By:
City Clerk