By Steve Plunkett
A review of pay in neighboring municipalities that Mayor Scott Morgan found “disturbing” is leading to hefty raises for Gulf Stream’s town manager, assistant town attorney and police chief.
“Our town manager salary is not only last among all towns in the area and on the barrier island, but way less,” Morgan said at the commission’s Aug. 8 meeting. “And it’s an issue that’s going to come back and bite us when we need to address the hiring of another manager.”
Morgan proposed raising Town Manager Greg Dunham’s pay to $195,000, up from $160,983.
“It is still right near the bottom, but it’s a substantial increase that at least makes us competitive with Manalapan,” the mayor said.
Morgan also proposed raising Assistant Town Attorney Trey Nazzaro’s salary to $187,500, up from $157,740, and Police Chief Richard Jones’ pay to $175,000, up from $152,100.
On the chief’s salary, “we’re not last. We’re penultimate, we are next to last and the other salaries are considerably higher,” Morgan said, first suggesting a raise to $165,000.
“My suggestion is to move the chief to $175,000. I’m afraid of poaching,” Dunham said.
Morgan and the rest of the commission quickly agreed.
“The reason our town runs so well is that our staff stays here, and they’re consistent and they’re loyal and we have a great relationship with them,” Morgan said.
Christmas decorations
Another budget move earlier in the Aug. 8 meeting will bring Christmas decorations to Place Au Soleil this year.
Dunham told commissioners that his proposed budget includes $30,000 for holiday decorations, with perhaps $9,000 of that going to the neighborhood on the west side of the Intracoastal Waterway.
“Last year (Town Clerk Renee Basel) did a wonderful job of decorating Town Hall over here,” he said. “We haven’t really ever done anything over at Place Au Soleil. I talked to residents over there and so we’re including money to put Christmas lights up in the entry area.”
Commissioner Rob Canfield, who lives in the neighborhood, said the homeowners there presented “some grandiose plans, but we’ve been able to scale it back.”
“So, lovely but not like crazy?” Commissioner Joan Orthwein asked.
“That’s what we’re going for,” Canfield said.
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