Brownwood City Council officially appointed Emily Crawford as its first female city manager after meeting in executive session regarding contract terms followed by a unanimous vote of the council.

The position as city manager names Crawford as the chief executive officer of the city and head of the administrative branch.  Her duties will begin June 24th, as current City Manager Bobby Rountree officially enters retirement from the City of Brownwood.

The agreed contract states that Crawford will be paid $125,000 annually with benefits including health insurance, a car allowance of $750.00 per month for the use of her vehicle on city business and a cell phone for city business.  The term of the contract does not state an end date but rather states that it Crawford will be “at will” employee, and that either party of the contract may terminate the agreement with 30 days written notice.

“I am very extremely pleased that the city council has selected Emily Crawford as the next city manager.  I think it is a positive move for not only this community, but also for Emily.  She is very well known in the community, has held several positions and at each position has skyrocketed to the top,” said Rountree.  “So it is a perfect fit for the Brownwood community and for Emily Crawford.  I’m very proud of her.”

Crawford stated that she first has to help fill many vacant positions within the city staff which were created by the retirements of Director of Public Works Donald Hatcher and the Director of the Health Department Alicia Long, as well as the vacancy of the executive director of the Brownwood Economic Development Corporation, which was created by her own promotion.  These hirings and the city’s new budget will be the first tasks Crawford will take on in her new role with the city.

“The future is very bright for this community.  We have so many intelligent staff members who are involved with the work of the city and I want to consider their ideas and see how we can work together to move our city forward to the future,” said Crawford.  “It’s a great honor (to be named to this position).  The role of city manager is an incredibly large position, it’s very weighty and carries a lot of responsibility so I take it very seriously.  I am looking forward to it, but I realize it will be a great responsibility.”

Crawford was hired from within the city’s organization and was named the lone finalist for the position on March 31, 2015.  She is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of Southwest Texas State University.  Crawford had previously worked as Convention Visitors Bureau Director and Marketing Manager for the Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce, as Community Relations Coordinator for Brownwood ISD and had gained the position of Executive Director of the Brownwood Economic Development Corporation in April of 2011.

Pictured above are Crawford and Rountree.