HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-03-90 WS (2)
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MINUTES OF CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP ON CITY MANAGER CONTRACT HELD
FEBRUARY 3, 1990
Mayor Dabbs called the workshop to order at 7:34 p.m. in the
meeting room at Colony Plaza Hotel.
PRESENT: Mayor Dabbs, Commissioners Combs, Foster, Johnson,
Woodson, City Manager Shapiro, City Attorney Rosenthal, City Clerk
Grafton
ABSENT: None
City Attorney Rosenthal advised that the contract presented
tonight was substantively the same as the one presented last week
and that the only changes were to make it clearly communicate what
City Manager Shapiro was asking, i.e. the statement regarding
salary was restated to be defined as 26 payments rather than a
yearly figure and that the proposal ties to 10% figure regarding
an employee earning within 10% of the City Manager's salary. The
Finance Director will monitor the figures and advise when an
employee's salary comes close. Commissioner Combs asked who
controls the increases. City Manager Shapiro responded that the
Commission does and that the 2-7% merit increase and the cost of
living increases will affect the figures, but as the Commission
sets the budget they will control the raises. Commissioner Woodson
presented a counter proposal that included the following: 1)
$55,000 the first contract year, $59,000 the second year and
$62,000 the third year, 2) No employee to be hired within 10% of
his salary, 3) Six months severance pay if fired but should City
Manager leave without cause he should return six months salary.
City Manager Shapiro responded that, because Commissioner Woodson
was not present at the initial interviews, he was not aware that
the figures he proposed had already been discussed and were not
acceptable and that he would not sign a contract that would
prohibit other staff members from receiving a cost of living
increase. City Manager Shapiro said further that the retirement
plan with ICMA that he is requesting is paid quarterly and cannot
be released to him without Commission approval and that the plan
would be available to other employees as well. And finally, that
it is against his ethics to walk away from his contract once
signed. Commissioner Combs stated that he basically agreed with
the contract figures as originally presented and has no problem
with that now, but would prefer a four year contract in order to
complete the five year capital plan. Commissioner Foster
complimented City Manager Shapiro for standing his ground and for
doing a good job and stated that he supports the contract as
presented. Commissioner Johnson said that he had checked on the
ICMA retirement which is 10% while ours is 5%, (and possibly it
should be addressed for all the employees), and that, as the
salary should relate to the budget and the size of the town, the
proposed salary is in line. Commissioner Woodson summed up that he
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City Commission Workshop
February 3, 1990
had no problem with City Manager Shapiro, he just likes to
negotiate. City Attorney Rosenthal, to clarify some of the points
touched on in the discussion, said the Charter has provision for
termination in absence of a contract. City Manager Shapiro's
proposal says "without cause" which is not addressed in the
Charter. Leaving "with cause" is covered by the Charter and in the
case of breech of contract the City would not be able to extract a
penalty. City Manager Shapiro explained that he would be put
before the Ethics Committee should he breech a contract and, as
that is not a desirable position for him, he will neither breech
the contract nor go back into the landscape business. His concern
was whether he would be required to pay a penalty should he become
ill and unable to fullfill his contract. Mayor Dabbs said there
would be no problem there, but that he was concerned with the size
of the retirement and proposed 7% now and 10% in 1991. It was
decided to omit Section 3 - Termination: Severance and readdress
it in 30-45 days after City Attorney Rosenthal has searched out
the legal possibilities. In the meantime City Manager Shapiro will
participate in the retirement program like other employees until
after an act~ial study is done. A revised contract omitting
Section 3 will be put on the agenda for the Commission Regular
Meeting on February 6, 1990.
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City Manager Shapiro was instructed to draw a check for five of
the ten days vacation budgeted for him for 1989 (which he had not
been aware of due to a misunderstanding at the hiring interview).
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 8:17 p.m..
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FOLEY & LARDNER, VAN DEN BERG, GAY, BURKE. WILSON & ARKIN
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III NORTH ORANGE AVENUE, SUITE 1800
POST OFFICE BOX 2193
IN MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN
FOLEY & LARON ER
ORLANDO, FLORIDA 32802 - 2193
TELEPHONE (407) 423-7656
FACSIMILE (407) 648-1743
777 EAST WISCONSIN AVENUE
MILWAUKEE,WIS.53202-5367
TELEPHONE (414) 271-2400
TELEX 26-819
COJ:\lFIRMATION COpy
FOLEY & LA RON ER
MADISON, WISCONSIN
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
ITASCA, ILLINOIS
WASHINGTON, D. C.
ALEXANDRIA. VIRGINIA
ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA
TAMPA, FLORIDA
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Mayor and city commissioners of the City of Ocoee
FROM:
Paul E. Rosenthal, city Attorney
DATE:
January 31, 1990
RE:
Proposed Employment Agreement with City Manager
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For your review and consideration, please find enclosed
a proposed Employment Agreement between the City and Mr. Shapiro.
Changes from the proposed Employment Agreement submitted by
Mr. Shapiro have been blacklined or otherwise indicated on the
enclosed draft. While I have made revisions to the proposed
Employment Agreement, I do not believe that these revisions
substantively changed the understanding reached between the city
commission and the City Manager. The revisions are intended to
clarify and better define the Agreement and to assure compliance
with the City Charter.
In order to assist you in reviewing the proposed
Employment Agreement, I have highlighted certain provisions in
this memorandum.
The provisions of section 2-1 address the base salary
of Mr. Shapiro. I have clarified that it is an annual salary
which is payable bi-weekly in 26 installments. The base salary
will automatically be increased, if necessary, in order to assure
that the City Manager is paid an annual salary at least ten percent
(10%) greater than that of the mostly highly paid regular employee
of the City (other than the City Manager). The Finance Director
would advise the City commission upon any such adjustment.
The provisions of section 2-2(d) regarding health
insurance clarify that the City Manager participates in the City
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To:
From:
Re:
Date:
Page 2
Mayor and city commission of the City of Ocoee
Paul E. Rosenthal, Esq.
Proposed Employment Agreement with City Manager
January 31, 1990
Health Insurance program and that the availability of family
member coverage is on the same terms and conditions as all other
city employees.
The matter of deferred compensation has been a subject
of concern to Mr. Shapiro. Essentially, he has requested that he
be allowed to participate in the ICMA Retirement Plan in lieu of
the City Retirement Plan. He has also requested that, on a bottom
line basis, the City contribution towards his retirement be equal
to ten percent (10%) of his base annual salary without regard to
the retirement plan or combination of retirement plans. We are
in the process of reviewing the legality of withdrawing Mr. Shapiro
from the City's Retirement Plan and anticipate providing the City
Commission with our opinion at a later date. We have drafted the
provisions of section 2-2(h) to contemplate the various contin-
gencies regarding our opinion.
section 3 addresses termination and severance of the
City Manager. section 3-1 provides for the termination of the
city Manager without cause. Under such circumstances he would be
entitled to receive a lump sum payment equal to one-half (1/2) of
this base annual salary. Additionally, he would also be entitled
to receive his base annual salary through the date of termination,
along with the cash value of accrued and unused vacation and sick
leave. Essentially, he would be entitled to all other benefits
given to City employees upon termination in addition to the lump
sum severance pay.
We have reviewed the provisions of section 3-1 in light
of section 2 of Article IV of the city Charter dealing with the
termination of the City Manager. In our opinion, the city Charter
provisions contemplate the situation in which the City Manager is
terminated "for cause", as opposed to a termination "without
cause" pursuant to a negotiated agreement. We do not believe
that the provisions of the Section 2 of Article IV of the City
Charter would be applicable to the termination of the City Manager,
without cause, pursuant to the provisions of section 3-1 of the
Employment Agreement. Please note that we have added some
procedural protection by requiring that a termination without
cause must be preceded by at least five (5) days notice to the
City Manager.
As stated above, a removal of the city Manager "for
cause" would be pursuant to Section 2 of Article IV of the City
Charter. Under such circumstances, the provisions relating to
severance pay would not be applicable.
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To:
From:
Re:
Date:
Page 3
Mayor and City commission of the City of Ocoee
Paul E. Rosenthal, Esq.
Proposed Employment Agreement with City Manager
January 31, 1990
The term of the Agreement is 3 years and the City
Commission may negotiate a renewal six (6) months prior to the
expiration of the Agreement.
Mr. Shapiro has reviewed and approved the proposed
Employment Agreement.
In the event you have any questions or comments, please
give me a call. I will be at the city Commission meeting on
Saturday to address any specific concer~~
Paul E. Rosenthal
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Encl.
cc: Mr. Ellis Shapiro
Ms. Jean Grafton
FLOPPY/4758JJ(2)
01-(01/31/90)
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
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THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT ("the Agreement") is made
between the CITY OF OCOEE, a municipal corporation organized and
existing under the laws of the state of Florida, with its office
located at city Hall, Ocoee, Florida (hereinafter referred to as
the "City"), and ELLIS SHAPIRO, ~hose residence address is
(hereinafter referred to as the "Employee").
In consideration of the mutual promises and covenants
herein contained, the parties agree as follows:
SECTION ONE
CITY MANAGER'S DUTIES
The Employee shall be employed by the city as the city
Manager, and the Employee shall devote his full time to act as
city Manager for the city of Ocoee and to carry out to the best
of his ability all the duties imposed upon him by the Charter and
the Ordinances of the city of Ocoee and such other duties as the
city commission from time to time may require of him.
SECTION TWO
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COMPENSATION - DATE OF SERVICES
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1. BASE SALARY: In consideration for the services
rendered under this Agreement, the Employee shall receive a base
salary of $57,500.00 per year_commencing on February 16, 1990.
Furthermore, the Employee shall receive a~ase salary of $60,000.00
per yea~ commencing February 7, 1991 and $62,500.00 er ear
commencing February 16, 1992. The base salar er
payable bi-weekly in twenty-six (26) ~nstallments. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the base annual salary of the Employee shall always
be at least ten (10%) greater than the base annual salary of all
other regular employees of the city. In the event the base annual
salary of the Employee is at any time less than ten percent (10%)
greater than the most highly paid regular employee of the city,
then the base annual salary shall be automatically increased to
an amount ten percent (10%) greater than that of the most highly
paid regular employee of the city (other than the Employee). In
the event of any such adjustment, the Finance Director shall so
advise the city commission.
2. FRINGE BENEFITS. The Employee shall be entitled
to the following fringe benefits at the ex ense of the city:
a. vacation: vacation shall be ~(10) days
per year and shall accrue each month of
employment the same as all other employees.
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Blacklined to show
changes from draft
dated, ·
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h.
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b.
sick Leave: Shall be the same as all other
employees of the City.
Holidav: Holidaysashall be the same number
and accrue/in the same manner as all other
employees of the city.
c.
d.
Health Insurance: The citYAshall provide
comprehensive health insurance coverage in
the City health insurance proqram to thi---
.Employee and all members of the Employee's
family~n the same terms and conditions as
Qrovided to other City employees and their-
family members. ~
Automobile: The citY~hall provide an
automobile for the Emp oyee during the term
of this Agreement. ~he City shall pay for
all maintenance, insurance, operatinq and -
car telephone costs associated with such
aijtomobile.
Dues and Subscriotions: The city shall
pay all appropriate professional dues an
subscriptions on behalf of the Employee for
purposes of allowing his continued and full
participation in direct job related national,
regional, state and local associations and
organizations necessary and desirable.and
as will permit his professional participation,
growth and advancement for the good of Ocoee,
Florida.
e.
f.
g.
Life Insurance: The cityAshal1 pay the
annualApremiums necessary to provide term life
insurance on the Employee's life in an amount
double the Employee's anual base salary.
Deferred Comoensation:
(i) Except as provided in Section
2(2) (h) (ii) below, the Employee shall
participate in the City's Retirement Plan at
the same level of funding provided for other
employees of the city.
(ii) In the event the Employee can legally
can withdraw from the City's Retirement Plan
without materially and adversely affecting the
Retirement Plan, then the City shall enter/
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enroll the Employee in the retirement plan
established by the International City Management
Association (ICMA) (or such other plan as may
be designated by the Employee) and shall make
an annual contribution to said ICMA retirement
plan equal to ten percent (10%) of the base
annual salary of the Employee. Upon such
enrollment in the ICMA Retirement Plan, the
Employee shall cease to be a participant in
the City's Retirement Plan.
(iii) In the event the Employee cannot
legally withdraw from the City's Retirement
Plan without materially and adversely affecting
the Retirement Plan, then the City shall enter/
enroll the Employee in the retirement plan
established by the ICMA (or such other plan as
may be designatd by the Employee) and shall,
to the extent permitted by law, make an annual
contribution to said ICMA retirement plan equal
to the difference, if any, between ten percent
(10%) of the base annual salary of the Employee
and the dollar amount contributed by the City
on behalf of the Employee to the City'S
Retirement Plan. Under such circumstances,
the Employee shall, to the extent permitted by
law, be a participant in both the City's
Retirement Plan and the ICMA retirement plan.
SECTION THREE
~ TERMINATION: SEVERANCE
This Agreement ma be terminated b the cit without
cause, by a ma]Or1 y vo e of the City Comm1ss~on preceded by at
least five (5) days notice to the City Manager of the proposed
termination. Upon such termination of this Agreement, the Employee
(i) shall be terminated as an employee of the City, (ii) shall
be paid the prorated portion of his base annual salary through
the date of termination along with the cash value of accrued and
unused vacation and sick leave, and (iii) shall receive a lump
sum payment equal to one-half of the base annual salary of the
Employee at the time of termination. The aforementioned lump sum
payment shall be in full consideration of all other claims of the
Employee against the City. The parties hereto acknowledge that
the procedures set forth in Section 2 of Article IV of the City
Charter are not applicable to removal of the Employee pursuant to
this Paragraph.
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2. In the event the Employee is removed as City Manager
of the City, with cause and in accordance with the procedures set
forth in Section 2 of Article IV of the City Charter, then this
Agreement shall automatically be terminated.
SECTION FOUR
TERM
This Agreement shall be for a term of three (3) years
Acommencing on February 18, 1990 andAterm1na ing on February 19,
1993. six (6) month~rior to the term1nat1on of this Agreement,
the City and the Employee may negotiate a renewal agreement_ on
such terms and conditions as may be mutually agreed upon.
SECTION FIVE
NOTICES
Any notice required to be given under this Agreement
shall be sufficient if in writing~and sent by registered~
,certified mail, return receipt requested, to the Mayor_~nd City
Clerk of the city c/o City Hall. as to the City, and to the
EmPlo~ee at the Employee's last known residence.~s shown in the
recor s of the City.
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SECTION SIX
MISCELLANEOUS
1. GOVERNING LAW: This Agreement shall be interpreted,
~construed and governed according to the laws of the State of
Florida.
2. AMENDMENTS: No amendment or variation of the terms
or conditions of this Agreement shall be valid unless in writing
and signed by the parties.
3. ASSIGNABILITY: The Employee's rights and obligations
under this Agreement are personal and not assignable.
4. INVALID PROVISION: The invalidity or unenforceability
of any particular provision of this Agreement shall not affect
the other provisions hereof, and this Agreement shall be construed
in all respects as if such invalid or unenforceable provisions
were omitted.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this
Agreement this ___ day of , 1990.
CITY OF OCOEE, FLORIDA
EMPLOYEE:
LESTER DABBS, JR., Mayor
ELLIS SHAPIRO
ATTEST:
JEAN GRAFTON, City Clerk
(SEAL)
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FOR USE AND RELIANCE ONLY
BY THE CITY OF OCOEE
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY
this day of
1990.
FOLEY & LARDNER, van den BERG,
GAY, BURKE, WILSON' ARKIN
By:
City Attorney
FloPPY/4758II(4)
01 (01/31/90)
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