My husband and I returned to New Smyrna Beach after a week's vacation in Merida, Mexico. Driving back from Orlando, we thought we had come home to fires and were driving through smoke. But we got on the radio and learned it was fog. The closer to New Smyrna Beach, the thicker the fog became.
Then I got caught up on the New Smyrna Beach city government news.
Talk about "fog." The interim city manager, Pam Brangaccio, tried to pull a "fast one" with her bloated contract request, yet Commissioner James Hathaway did not "buy" it. Neither did Mayor Adam Barringer.
I guess most of the commissioners realized they had better take a second look at her "list of presents."
To all the elected officials, I say: Turn your headlights on, and get out of the fog. We are in trouble with this economy. She can work for less. The days of the "perks" are over.
Editor's Note: Fast Facts on the proposed salary package for Interim City Manager Pam Brangaccio:
She currently earns $10,000 in pay monthly, plus $1,500 in housing allowance, on a six-month contract agreed to last July after her initial request of $132,500 annually was rejected by the City Commission. She doesn't propose a specific dollar amount in her contract, but does request the following: A base equal to her current salary and housing, now fully in salary for an annually base of $132,500, plus $5,200 in auto allowance annually, plus 13.2% of that new base to go into retirement, plus a six-month severance package and continuation of health benefits, and a cost of living tied to whatever other city employees receive as well as personal leave, holiday, sick and vacation time afforded other employees based on tenure. The matter was brought up for discussion at the Dec. 8 meeting and tabled until January by the commission with everyone on the dais in agreement that any new contract would have to be unanimous.