Incoming Village Manager Ted Yates will receive a $200,000 salary, a monthly housing allowance of $4,000 and $15,000 to cover moving expenses from his Ohio home to Islamorada.
A contract between the village and Yates garnered the council’s approval during a June 2 meeting inside the Founders Park Community Center. The council selected the former Twinsburg, Ohio mayor out of four finalists during a special meeting on May 6.
Council members picked Vice Mayor Henry Rosenthal to carry out contract negotiations between the village and Yates. With the exception of cost of living increases, Rosenthal said there are no salary increases for 18 months. Yates will be offered health insurance benefits for his spouse, eligible children and himself for $125 per pay period. Currently, village employees on the family plan pay close to $900 for health, dental and vision coverage.
Councilman David Webb said he’s not unhappy that the village is subsidizing Yates’ health care. However, he said it’s expensive for village employees who need to cover anyone else in their family.
“This is something I’d encourage Ted and Maria (Bassett) to look at different options,” he said. “Along with housing costs for anybody who wants to be on village staff, this health insurance is a big big deal.”
Performance evaluations will be conducted every six months during the first 18 months of his employment. Terms of the agreement go for one year, unless terminated by either party sooner. Rosenthal said he inserted language into the contract for an exit interview prior to any separation.
“If we can gain information we can correct in the future, this is the person to tell the story,” he said.
Gregg said the agreement and other prior agreements don’t have a gag order attached, but rather a non-disparagement clause.
“I’m sensitive to it because it could potentially cast the council and the village in general in a negative, and even disparaging, light,” he said. “There’s nothing like that in this agreement and haven’t been in other agreements.”
Yates will officially start on Aug. 1.
“I do appreciate the extra time. Going through 25 years of purging of a home is taking more than I anticipated. We’re getting there and we’ll be down there (on) Aug. 1 ready to go,” he said.
Yates will be in attendance for the June 16 special call meeting to discuss the building permit allocation system (BPAS). The meeting starts at 3 p.m. at the Founders Park Community Center.
