Cowley's benefits

I've gotten a couple of comments on the blog and through e-mail from people wondering how much La Puente City Manager Carol Cowley will be getting in retirement.

Some clarifications on a few things: first of all, Cowley is NOT subject to any kind of severance package as some have asked me. Because she wasn't fired, she doesn't get any lump sums.

Now, like any other government employee, voluntary resignation or retirement means she's eligible to receive the normal benefits per her retirement plan. She'll get about half of nearly $140,000 salary annually and health and dental benefits paid for by the city for the rest of her life. The health and dental also extend to her dependents, of which she has one: a daughter, who won't be eligible for benefits anymore in about a year.

Also, just a quick clarification from Thursday's article: Tuesday's closed session agenda listed employee performance evaluation for the city manager. But apparently, the evaluation was completed at the last meeting. Tuesday's closed session item was really to inform the council of Cowley's impending departure.