Myra L. Ayala
The city of Edinburg’s new city manager, Myra L. Ayala, was officially hired for the job in April but the terms of her contract with the city were finally settled last month.
As part of the terms of her agreement to run the city, Ayala will receive a $225,000 annual salary from the city of Edinburg.
The agreement, which was approved by the Edinburg City Council on May 3, states that Ayala will serve out a four-year term effective April 19, though the council may extend the term for an additional four years.
If she serves those additional four years, she will reach the cap since the city charter does not allow a city manager to serve for more than eight years unless it is amended to allow for more time.
The agreement makes clear that she is an “at will” employee and therefore either party may terminate the agreement for any reason with written notice.
As the city manager, Ayala is the chief executive officer of the city who is tasked with employing all other city employees, as well as directing, assigning, evaluating and organizing the city staff. She’s also meant to establish internal regulations, rules and procedures and accept the resignations of all employees. She will also have other duties as directed by the mayor and city council that are consistent with the city manager position.
Under the contract, in addition to her $225,000 annual salary, she will receive a $500 monthly automobile allowance.
Ayala was selected for the position from a field of five candidates who submitted applications for the job.
The applicants included current assistant city managers for the cities of Mission and Pharr, San Juan City Manager Benjamin Arjona, and the former Laredo City Manager Robert Eads.
Before becoming city manager, Ayala served as the Edinburg city secretary for nearly 17 years.
She first served in the role from May 2003 to February 2018. At that point, she began working as the director of business operations and marketing for the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation until February 2019.
Upon leaving the EDC, she began working as the city secretary for the city of Weslaco until March 2020. She then returned to the city of Edinburg to serve as city secretary from March 2020 to March 2022.
It was then that she was appointed interim city manager following the resignation of City Manager Ron Garza, who stepped down to accept a position with the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
Following a search for a permanent replacement for Garza, the city council officially named Ayala as the new city manager on April 19.
