THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 1, 1994 TAG: 9406300212
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL REED, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
The public notices that ran last week in local newspapers left much unsaid, Councilman John D. Moss declares.
They contained a single, cryptic phrase: ``Ordinance re compensation for City Council Appointees.''
The brief note announcing the lengthy Tuesday meeting agenda did not reveal that the council was about to grant 3 percent pay raises to the city manager, the city attorney, the real estate assessor or the city clerk.
It also did not reveal that the council was about to give the city attorney a new perk: a car allowance.
``The issue is what harm would come to making public the details on compensation?'' Moss asked fellow council members Tuesday night. ``Process is something the government is all about - people have to have it to be meaningfully informed.''
With that said Moss opposed most of the pay provisions, but the majority of the council prevailed.
So, beginning July 1:
City Manager James K. Spore will get a $3,487 raise. He will then be making $116,246 annually and will have a $6,000 a year car allowance; $7,500 deferred compensation, provisions for six months severance pay, an annual physical and memberships in organizations such as the International City Managers Association, paid for by the city.
City Attorney Leslie L. Lilley will get a $2,550 raise that boosts his annual salary to $87,550. In addition, he will get a $350 a month car allowance, three months severance pay; an annual physical and memberships paid.
Real Estate Assessor Jerald Banagan gets a $1,845 a year raise, which will give him a yearly salary of $61,484. He gets no car allowance, but he does get three months severance pay, an annual checkup and memberships paid for by the city.
City Clerk Ruth Hodges Smith will get a $1,566 hike, boosting her yearly salary to $52,209. She receives no car allowance, but does get reimbursed for professional memberships and an annual checkup.
The increases are not out of line with those in neighboring cities, Vice Mayor William D. Sessoms insists.
``You'll find that we're right in the middle of them,'' he said.
Councilman Robert K. Dean, who voted against the car allowance provisions, asked Sessoms to read the pay increases and additional perks, which were decided in executive session, into the meeting record. Sessoms complied.
Once the votes were tallied Mayor Meyera Oberndorf assured spectators and the public access television audience tuning in, that the pay hikes were approved ``in all honesty.''
``Procedures were followed and evaluations done properly,'' she said. In addition, a written record of the pay votes will be available to the public, she added.
A day after the meeting Moss vowed to bring the car allowance issue back before the council next year.
``Commanding officers on an aircraft carrier don't get car allowances,'' he said. ``And these people make good money.''
The pay hikes for the top appointed city officials were more or less in line with 2.5 to 3 percent hikes slated for other municipal and city school employees.
The council also voted to grant some employees an additional 2.5 percent merit increase based on exceptional job performances. ILLUSTRATION: City Manager James K. Spore to get $3,487 raise to $116,246
annually.
City Attorney Leslie L. Lilley to get $2,550 raise to $87,550
annually.
RIGHT: Real Estate Assessor Jerald Banagan to get $1,845 raise to
$61,484 annually.
NOT PICTURED: City Clerk Ruth Hodges Smith to get $1,566 raise to
$52,209 annually.
by CNB