The Farmville Town Council and its personnel committee are poised to discuss extending or creating a new employment contract for longtime Town Manager Gerald Spates.

Spates’ existing contract, which began July 1, 2012, superseding a Feb. 28, 2008 agreement, ends June 30.

During Wednesday’s town council work session, reviewing the March 8 council meeting agenda, Mayor David Whitus suggested council refer the matter, which is listed under “new business,” to the town’s personnel committee, which is chaired by Ward D Councilman and Vice Mayor A.D. “Chuckie” Reid.

According to the town, Spates — who’s served in his position for nearly 40 years — makes $144,913.60 annually.

The contract includes details regarding the town manager’s duties, term of employment, terms of termination and severance pay, hours of work, performance evaluations, disability, life and health insurance, general expenses and automobile use.

“The Council shall review and evaluate the performance of the Employee at least once a year in advance of the effective date of the annual operating budget,” Spates’ contract reads. “Said review and evaluation shall be in accordance with specific criteria

developed jointly by the Employer and Employee. Said criteria may be added to or deleted from as the Council may from time to time determine, in consultation with the Employee.”

The contract calls for the council to annually define “such goals and objectives they deem necessary for the proper operation of Town and in the attainment of the Council’s policy objectives and shall further establish a relative priority among these goals and objectives, said goals and objectives reduced to writing.”

The contract cites that it is “imperative the Employee reside and remain a resident of the Town of Farmville throughout the term of this contract.”

According to a 2013 amendment to the contract, Spates’ duties “require that he shall have the exclusive and unrestricted use at all times for Town business during his employment with Employer of an automobile provided to him by employer. It is understood that Employee is on call at all times.”

The town, according to the amendment, is responsible for paying liability, property damage “and comprehensive insurance and for the purchase, maintenance, operation, repair and regular replacement of said automobile.”