Islamorada has its manager, at least for the interim.
In between busy budget workshops, the Islamorada village council convened a special Aug. 3 meeting and approved an agreement with Monroe County that lends the services of Bryan Cook, county employee services director, to the village for an initial 60 days. The council will review the agreement before it expires, a determination will be made whether to extend it another 60 days. The agreement won’t exceed two years and three months.
Despite issues from a few council members over the salary amount, the dais approved the agreement via a 4-1 vote. Councilman Henry Rosenthal was the lone “no” vote.
“To offer somebody (that) kind of number is uncalled for,” he said. “We are interviewing somebody that doesn’t have the credentials that warrants this $248,000.”
Per details to the agreement, Cook’s compensation would total $248,000 if he stayed with the village for a year. Cook currently receives around $197,000 in pay and benefits as county employee services director, Rosenthal said. Former Village Manager Ted Yates received a $200,000 salary with a $48,000 housing allowance, among other benefits. The village won’t pay for Cook’s medical, dental and other benefits.
Cook, a Sugarloaf resident who’s spent the last 27 years in human resources, will begin with the village Monday, Aug. 7. He’s the fifth person to take the position as village manager or interim manager since 2020, when then-manager Seth Lawless resigned due to health reasons.
As outlined in the agreement, Cook will perform the functions and duties of the manager per the village charter, which include supervising the administration of the department, sign contracts and provide administrative services in support of official duties of the mayor and the council, among others.
Last month, a council majority elected not to renew a contract with former manager Ted Yates. Selected by a previous dais in May 2022, the contract for Yates spanned a year with an option for renewal by the council before Aug. 1. A 3-2 vote by the dais left Yates without a new contract. July 31 marked the last day for Yates, leaving the council little time to find a manager, at least for the short term.
Last week, Monroe County Administrator Roman Gastesi offered the village an opportunity to bring on Cook for the interim until the council begins the search for a permanent manager. Gastesi’s proposal was well-received by the dais at a July 27 meeting. John Quick, attorney contracted by the village, was directed to sort out the terms of the arrangement with the county.
Cook will be required to document time spent on village and county matters for approval by the respective human resources departments.
“There is a definite chance that he could be at least fielding (county) phone calls, and so the village should not be footing bill for that, and the county has agreed they will pay for that,” Quick said.
Rosenthal suggested the council forgo the agreement to bring on Cook and instead begin a search for a permanent manager. Rosenthal sat on the citizens board that chose Seth Lawless as village manager in 2016.
“It took us a month to go through them, we had about six candidates. We didn’t have to disburse any funding. We could do it again, why not?”
Councilman Mark Gregg asked Rosenthal whether he felt a sense of urgency with no village manager. Rosenthal replied, “no, I do not.”
“The ladies over there (finance department and human resources), or somebody could sign a check,” Rosenthal said, asking Maria Bassett, finance director, what she did in prior instances with no village manager. Bassett, who was an interim manager twice over the past three years, said she was able to sign documents. She said staff are currently holding documents needing a manager’s signature, like purchase orders and invoices.
“But we made it work before,” Rosenthal said.
“Right, with an interim,” Bassett replied.
On Aug. 4, the village released a hiring ad for village manager. Interested candidates can view the qualifications and apply for consideration by the council.
Councilwoman Elizabeth Jolin voted to approve the agreement, but she had concerns with the vague job description and the lack of “deliverables” for Cook as interim manager.
“We need to manage our own expectations and the own expectations of Mr. Cook,” she said. “I had suggested compiling a list of very basic initiatives that he tackle. I know what frustration we’ve had in the past. … it’s been unclear what it is we’re looking for from our leadership.”
Gregg said the staff needs an executive and the community needs a manager. Gregg said he didn’t believe the village had any other reasonable alternative for an interim manager.
“If we want to give him some more specific guidelines or parameters, I think we can do that once he’s in his chair,” Gregg said. “I don’t know that we can afford to wait much longer. He will have missed two budget workshops.”
Vice Mayor Sharon Mahoney said she hopes the new interim manager can provide the council with structure. The dais is expected to consider a resolution related to protocol and procedure at an Aug. 17 meeting.
