"Jefferson County Washington
PAY RAISE NEWS: Commissioners raise salary of Jefferson County administrator; still paid lower than other local government CEOs
Jefferson County Administrator Philip Morley has received a $7,500 increase for a new annual salary of $141,953 and still remains at a lower base salary than counterparts at the Port of Port Townsend, City of Port Townsend and Jefferson Public Utility District.
Morley was hired as County Administrator on Sept. 22, 2008, and started work on Oct. 16, 2008 to oversee a local government with some 300 full-time and part-time employees. On Dec. 21, 2020, Commissioners Greg Brotherton, Kate Dean and David Sullivan (whose 16-year career as commissioner ends Dec. 31) unanimously approved an updated employment agreement after having been overdue on conducting a written job performance evaluation.
“The updated agreement primarily cleans up the language in the agreement and clarifies certain terms and conditions,” according to Mark McCauley, Director of Central Services and the County’s No. 2 administrator. There are two substantive changes. (1) Morley’s compensation is being “adjusted to bring it in line with our comparable counties.” (2) A six-month severance is added should the County want to end the employee-employer relationship with Morley – which is standard practice for the chief executive opposition in municipal corporations, McCauley noted.
The employment agreement lists a base salary of $141,953 annually. Cost of living increases are to be provided in the same as other exempt (non-union) employees. He also receives the same benefits as other exempt employees; his health benefits are covered like with other management staff. Morley accrues personal time off (PTO) at 32 days per year earned monthly on a pro-rated basis. Maximum banked accrued time will be 480 hours (60 days). He also receives non-accruable PTO days based on tenure as allowed in the Personnel Administration Manual.
CEO SALARY COMPARISON
The County government administrator position with an annual base salary of nearly $142,000 is paid less than other local public administrators in Jefferson County. For example:
Jefferson Healthcare public hospital district CEO Mike Glenn in 2018 had a base salary of $256,000. Glenn has topped the list of public sector executives since he was hired in 2010 with a base of $225,000.
Jefferson Public Utility District No. 1 in 2018 hired a general manager for $175,000.
City of Port Townsend Manager John Mauro was hired in 2019 with a base salary of $156,000.
Port of Port Townsend Executive Director Eron Berg was hired early in 2020 with a base salary of $155,000.
COUNTY EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
The Jefferson County employment agreement with Morley contains this statement: “It is the desire of the County to (1) secure and retain the services of Morley and to provide inducement for him to remain in such employment, (2) to make possible full work productivity by assuring Morley’s morale and peace of mind with respect to future security, (3) to act as a deterrent against malfeasance or dishonesty for personal gain on the part of Morley, and (4) to provide a just means for terminating Morley’s services at such time as he may be unable fully to discharge his duties due to disability or when the County may otherwise desire to terminate his employ.”
If the BOCC decides it wants a new administrator, the County “shall endeavor to give Morley six months’ notice so that me may obtain suitable employment elsewhere.” Should Morley be terminated by the County, with or without cause, the County must pay six months’ salary and COBRA premiums, minus federal payroll deductions. Severance is conditioned upon Morley and the County executing a separation agreement. Should Morley be convicted of any criminal act, the County has no obligation to pay the aggregate severance.
The BOCC may only reduce the administrator’s salary, compensation and other benefits if it is an across-the-board reduction for all management employees.
The County shall review and evaluate Morley’s performance in writing at least once a year during October.
The agreement is effective Jan. 1, 2021.
LEARN MORE
Jefferson BOCC agenda, Dec. 21, 2020. Scroll to item No. 13 on the Consent Agenda and click on the PDF to read the documents
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Source
https://www.facebook.com/Jefferson-County-Washington-236159643133225