NSBNEWS.net video by Sera Frederick. City Commissioners held off on voting on a new contract for Interim City Manager Pam Brangaccio after Commissioner Jim Hathaway voiced concerns about the terms of the contract. Brangaccio is shown in the photo below. NSBNEWS.net has the entire proceedings on video here.
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NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- At the beginning of tonight's City Commission meeting, Commissioner Judy Reiker commented pleasingly how everyone seemed to be "gellin'."
That was until the discussion about a new contract and lifting the label of "interim" for Interim City Manager Pam Brangaccio.
No specific annual salary amount was requested by Brangaccio who had initially asked for $132,500 annually back in July before agreeing to a six-month contract calling for $10,000 a month, plus $1,500 in housing subsidies after the commission balked at her initial request.
That six-month salary annualized comes to $138,000, with the housing subsidy converted to salary, which was something of a bitter pill for Commissioner Jim Hathaway to swallow, calling it "premature," especially with a new mayor in Adam Barringer and a new commissioner in Judy Reiker just taking office last month.
"I would like to see quite frankly the first budget she is going to propose," Hathaway said of Brangaccio. "I wish we could quite frankly ask Ms. Brangaccio to continue working with us for another 90 days."
Another stickler for Hathaway was a six-month salary severance provision, plus cost of living increases given to employees as well as 190 hours of vacation and sick time. She would also receive a $5,200 car allowance.
Commissioner and Vice Mayor Lynne Plaskett called the 90-day waiting period a "slap in the face" for the city's top administrator who she described as an excellent leader who has proven herself in the interim.
But Commissioner Jack Grasty quickly backed Hathaway, saying this was a big fiscal matter that needs more discussion to be resolved, especially with the new mayor and commissioner on board.
Commissioner Reiker was the one who made the suggestion two weeks ago to consider a new contract for Brangaccio, considering her contract is within two months of its run.
Reiker said she believed this kind of contract would necessitate a unanimous vote.
Mayor Barringer did not specifically comment on where he stood, but suggested such a vote could take place before year's end, something that the commissioners agreed was not practical considering Grasty and City Attorney Frank Gummey would not be available. They agreed to address the contract in early January.
Brangaccio, 55, a Tampa-area resident and former Broward County administrator, did not speak on the issue.