NSBNEWS.net video by Sera Frederick. Pam Brangaccio and the City Commission have agreed on a new contract that will pay her $120,000 annually.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- City Commissioner Judy Reiker brought up the artificial Christmas tree on Canal Street as a comparative difference in justifying the difference between the $120,000 salary City Manager Pam Brangaccio ultimately received Tuesday night, which was $10,000 more than what the elected body sought to pay her just a week ago.
"We are a Christmas tree away," the first-term commissioner said, comparing the salary difference to the nearly $9,000 Christmas tree paid for last year with Community Redevelopment Agency funds and showcased this past holiday season.
By a 3-2 vote Tuesday, Pam Brangaccio received her requested $120,000 salary to go with her new title of city manager, $10,000 more than what the City Commission originally offered her at the
start of negotiations a week earlier.
Mayor Adam Barringer and Commissioner Lynne Plaskett joined Reiker in securing the contract. Commissioners Jim Hathaway and Jack Grasty dissented.
Hathaway said up front he knew he'd play the role of curmudgeon, but he felt the $110,000 offered unanimously at last week's special meeting a week ago was fair, adding, "To be honest with you, I really thought she was going to come in here, sit down Wednesday and say let's go
to work."
Hathaway insisted. Brangaccio, former Broward County manager, was "probably way over qualified for this city," but just because she has experience doesn't mean he's ready to open up the checkbook and give her what the city may not be able to afford."
Commissioner Hathaway pointed out that this was why he rejected Brangaccio's $132,500 salary request when she was hired instead at $10,000 a month, plus $1,800 in living expenses as an interim for six months.
Plaskett said Brangaccio's experience, demonstrated over the last six months was precisely why she deserved to at least be paid what she was getting as an interim, minus the living expenses, because she has been a valuable commodity over that time.
"It's all good, it's all good for the community," Plaskett said, adding "She's kicking butt and taking names."
Mayor Barringer, trying to strike a compromise, suggested the commissioners "split the difference" at $115,000
But Commissioner Plaskett put a motion on the table to proceed with Brangaccio's asking price, and Commissioner Reiker seconded it, earlier stating the city manager's contract request was $922 less than the
countywide average, taking the much larger Daytona Beach and Volusia County manager averages out of the equation.
"Let's make this a win-win situation," Reiker said.
Without mentioning Port Orange City Manager Ken Parker by name, Commissioner Grasty pointed out, "The man working up there has 56,000 residents and
520-something employees (and) he only makes $116,000."
Brangaccio thanked the commission for meeting her salary demand, which also includes a $4,800 car allowance, seven weeks of personal time off annually and three months severance if fired in the first year.
"But prior to the vote, the 53-year-old city manager asked if the commission was struggling with meeting her salary expectations "because I'm a girl?"
Commissioner Hathaway responded no, though he added she was actually among the five finalists because there wasn't a woman among the top four initial finalists.
Earlier in the meeting Adelle Alletti, president of the Flagler Merchants Association, asked the commission to be fair with Mrs. Brangaccio in her salary request.
Brangaccio replaced John Hagood, who was fired last February, with seven months to go on his contract. His annual salary was $120,000, but he had been with the city for more than 20 years, working his way up to the top spot in the final two years.