$100k city administrator

[b4real]

Originally Posted by RIchard Bland

I thought you were smarter than that, too, even though you do have an MBA. Hmm, so there's 11% unemployment. Do you think Albert Pujols should take a pay cut as a result? By your reasoning, because unemployment is high, presumably they should cut the salaries of firefighters and police officers, too. Not to mention doctors and nurses. Yes, I'm sure the quality of service won't suffer a bit, and there are lots of unemployed folks in line who can step into the jobs, no problem.

The pay scale for some positions is not very elastic (since you're talking Econ 101). A good administrator--or a good doctor, or a good policeman--might just shrug and walk away if you're not willing to offer them what they require. Given the potential cost of bad decisions and poor performance in that position, $10-15K a year is peanuts if you're talking the difference between a good administrator and one who's sort of semi-competent. It's one of those positions where if you can't get the quality you want for the price you want to pay, you might be better off upping the ante a bit. But if you prefer, you can save $1000-1500 a month and potentially end up with a bozo instead.

Is the salary too high? Maybe. I'm not familiar with the pay scale for city administrators, but the figure being offered doesn't sound totally outrageous for a professional position of that kind, even in a place like Lebanon. The average administrator salary at LHS is over $70K. Nobody seemed to blink at paying the prior administrator $80K, and from the various things I've seen reported in the LDR and in the auditor's report about the city management during his tenure, that was not money entirely well-spent. Can you expect that because you got a less-than-stellar administrator for $80K you can get a really good one for the same amount? Maybe, but maybe not. Let's not forget the city had an administrator lined up before, but he sandbagged his true salary demands until after they offered him the job, and they let him go. Now the current guy negotiated himself a somewhat better deal than was initially offered, too, but apparently it was something the city felt it could swallow.

So it's not entirely clear whether the frustration expressed on this thread is really "the price is too high," or instead just the old "I don't want to pay that much." Those aren't always the same thing.

If the new guy is the real deal--and I am certainly in no position to say one way or another whether he is--the extra boodle (and it's not really all that much, certainly not guaranteed) might be a good decision, even if it offends your sensibilities. Just because you think somebody really good "ought" to be willing to take the job for an amount of money you like doesn't make it so. Reality tends to be a bit recalcitrant that way.

You want to compare salaries of the best baseball player of his time with a city administrator? Carry on. I don't care to participate in your insanity.

Or you could up the ante $10k a month and still end up with a "bozo". What's your point?

"I'm not familiar with the pay scale for city administrators". Period. The End. Take your toys and go home. Familarize yourself and then come back and have a logical discussion.

Here's a point of comparison for you and maybe some of the knuckleheads on city council could read this also, assuming they can read. Springfield's city manager makes $195k.
http://www.springfieldmo.gov/webapps...jsp?relid=2547

Population = 151k per 2k census.
Springfields city manager makes $1.29 per resident.

Lebanon city manager starting salary = $80k
Population = 12k per 2k census.
Lebanon city manager makes $6.67 per resident.

Now how does it look?

And finally...how much did your water or electric bill go up this month/year because of the utility slush fund?

[b4real]

Originally Posted by Bill Rook

He was fired in Wisconsin and quit after 90 days in North Carolina. I hope his tour here is long and proves to be worth the expense.

I don't doubt you but do you have a link for your info?

[Bill Rook]

Originally Posted by b4real

I don't doubt you but do you have a link for your info?

Search "HENRY LUXEM". There are several articles.

[RezDawg]

Originally Posted by Bill Rook

He was fired in Wisconsin and quit after 90 days in North Carolina. I hope his tour here is long and proves to be worth the expense.

Im just trembling with anticipation and hope...............

[momathome]

Originally Posted by b4real

you want to compare salaries of the best baseball player of his time with a city administrator? Carry on. I don't care to participate in your insanity.

Or you could up the ante $10k a month and still end up with a "bozo". What's your point?

"i'm not familiar with the pay scale for city administrators". Period. The end. Take your toys and go home. Familarize yourself and then come back and have a logical discussion.

Here's a point of comparison for you and maybe some of the knuckleheads on city council could read this also, assuming they can read. Springfield's city manager makes $195k.
http://www.springfieldmo.gov/webapps...jsp?relid=2547

population = 151k per 2k census.
Springfields city manager makes $1.29 per resident.

Lebanon city manager starting salary = $80k
population = 12k per 2k census.
Lebanon city manager makes $6.67 per resident.

Now how does it look?

And finally...how much did your water or electric bill go up this month/year because of the utility slush fund?

amen my point exactly thank you

[Uncle Buck]

Please understand, I am not attempting to "out" anyone. How many of this forum readers/posters have actually had or do have a similar job?
How many of you have quit a job, as soon as you find out you were lied to? How many of you have actually been fired, for any reason or no reason?
This is not intended to be anything but some facts;
My previous job paid 85,500 per year (negotiated salary) my package included a Company car, Cell Phone, Lap top computer and an unlimited expense account and a twenty thousand dollar sign on bonus. It also included a sixty day hotel stay and all moving expenses (including packing and unpacking) The moving alone cost over fourteen thousand dollars. I am not bragging, just saying that was a reasonable "package" in the 1990's, I expect it would be more today. My package also included a thirty day clause; Either part could walk away after thirty days. If I walked I would have to repay the Bonus. If they walked I kept everything, including a sixty day severance pay. I stayed and after sixty days my pay went to 97,500 with everything else the same. Why am I retired in Lebanon? I had to retire due to health problems and Lebanon seemed like a nice town with friendly people and a progressive looking Local Government. From what I hear, and I have not met Mr Luxem, we and he have a fair package.
I have yet to speak to anyone who thought Mr Knapp was underpaid, so if his level of service was worth what we paid him, should we not expect to pay more for better service? Just my wondering.
Gene Fort

[RezDawg]

Originally Posted by 666

Please understand, I am not attempting to "out" anyone. How many of this forum readers/posters have actually had or do have a similar job?
How many of you have quit a job, as soon as you find out you were lied to? How many of you have actually been fired, for any reason or no reason?
This is not intended to be anything but some facts;
My previous job paid 85,500 per year (negotiated salary) my package included a Company car, Cell Phone, Lap top computer and an unlimited expense account and a twenty thousand dollar sign on bonus. It also included a sixty day hotel stay and all moving expenses (including packing and unpacking) The moving alone cost over fourteen thousand dollars. I am not bragging, just saying that was a reasonable "package" in the 1990's, I expect it would be more today. My package also included a thirty day clause; Either part could walk away after thirty days. If I walked I would have to repay the Bonus. If they walked I kept everything, including a sixty day severance pay. I stayed and after sixty days my pay went to 97,500 with everything else the same. Why am I retired in Lebanon? I had to retire due to health problems and Lebanon seemed like a nice town with friendly people and a progressive looking Local Government. From what I hear, and I have not met Mr Luxem, we and he have a fair package.
I have yet to speak to anyone who thought Mr Knapp was underpaid, so if his level of service was worth what we paid him, should we not expect to pay more for better service? Just my wondering.
Gene Fort

how do we know its better service yet,? and exactly who said we all agreed with what Joe was getting paid, per bold above. Just curious

[momathome]

Originally Posted by Bill Rook

Search "HENRY LUXEM". There are several articles.

Well I did just that. Topsail n carolina population as of 2008 [581] , 17 government employees of wich there are seven police and one firefighter.
info obtained throu city data.com
Luxum was forced to resing by city councel after 90 days of employment.
this information was obtained throu http://www.jdnews.com/articls/north-...sail-town.html
Also from city data.com
Kronenwetter wis. Population as of 2000 cesus was 5369 with 19 full time employees including 5 police and 24 part time fire.

Fired from there for undisclosed reasons after six years.

Wow sound qualified to me to run a city of this size. And sure does sound like he is worth the money tooo.............

FOR REAL???????????????? OMG


On top of all of this did you know that the city is now leaseing moble offices for the supporvisors being displaced by even more city hall staff being moved to the public works building.
Boy sounds like to me the city budget is doing pretty good, OR they are robbing Peter to pay Paul AGAIN. Or are they just going to lay off more workers to cover there back sides.

[momathome]

Originally Posted by 666

Please understand, I am not attempting to "out" anyone. How many of this forum readers/posters have actually had or do have a similar job?
How many of you have quit a job, as soon as you find out you were lied to? How many of you have actually been fired, for any reason or no reason?
This is not intended to be anything but some facts;
My previous job paid 85,500 per year (negotiated salary) my package included a Company car, Cell Phone, Lap top computer and an unlimited expense account and a twenty thousand dollar sign on bonus. It also included a sixty day hotel stay and all moving expenses (including packing and unpacking) The moving alone cost over fourteen thousand dollars. I am not bragging, just saying that was a reasonable "package" in the 1990's, I expect it would be more today. My package also included a thirty day clause; Either part could walk away after thirty days. If I walked I would have to repay the Bonus. If they walked I kept everything, including a sixty day severance pay. I stayed and after sixty days my pay went to 97,500 with everything else the same. Why am I retired in Lebanon? I had to retire due to health problems and Lebanon seemed like a nice town with friendly people and a progressive looking Local Government. From what I hear, and I have not met Mr Luxem, we and he have a fair package.
I have yet to speak to anyone who thought Mr Knapp was underpaid, so if his level of service was worth what we paid him, should we not expect to pay more for better service? Just my wondering.
Gene Fort

I have yet to speak to anyone who thought he was NOT underpaid , in fact he was way overpaid to be a yes man for Allen

[firefighter]

Originally Posted by momathome

Well I did just that. Topsail n carolina population as of 2008 [581] , 17 government employees of wich there are seven police and one firefighter.
info obtained throu city data.com
Luxum was forced to resing by city councel after 90 days of employment.
this information was obtained throu http://www.jdnews.com/articls/north-...sail-town.html
Also from city data.com
Kronenwetter wis. Population as of 2000 cesus was 5369 with 19 full time employees including 5 police and 24 part time fire.

Fired from there for undisclosed reasons after six years.

Wow sound qualified to me to run a city of this size. And sure does sound like he is worth the money tooo.............

FOR REAL???????????????? OMG


On top of all of this did you know that the city is now leaseing moble offices for the supporvisors being displaced by even more city hall staff being moved to the public works building.
Boy sounds like to me the city budget is doing pretty good, OR they are robbing Peter to pay Paul AGAIN. Or are they just going to lay off more workers to cover there back sides.

Thanks for the info, I'm going to try to do some research too!
Doesn't sound very good does it?