Monday, October 06, 2008

City Council Agenda Item: New City Administrator Contractual Agreement for $150,000/Year plus Benefits

ABSTRACT: On the October 7, 2008 City Council Agenda is the “Consideration of a Resolution adopting the employment agreement between the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea and Richard I. Guillen, City Administrator.” The Agreement is a 12-month contractual agreement, effective January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2008. Changes to the City Administrator’s Agreement dated January 1, 2007 include compensation of $150,000/year, retroactive to April 30, 2008, and the addition of California City Management Foundation professional dues to be paid by the
City for an estimated additional annual expense of $14,500. HIGHLIGHTS of the City Administrator’s Salary and Benefits (EXHIBIT “A”) are presented. A COMMENT is made with respect to Rich I. Guillen’s compensation as City Administrator.

AGENDA
Regular Meeting
Tuesday, October 7, 2008


VII. Consent Calendar
These matters include routine financial and administrative actions, which are usually approved by a single majority vote. Individual items may be removed from Consent by a member of the Council or the public for discussion and action.

G. Consideration of a Resolution adopting the employment agreement between the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea and Richard I. Guillen, City Administrator.

HIGHLIGHTS OF EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA AND RICHARD I. GUILLEN, DATED OCTOBER 7, 2008 (EXHIBIT “A”):
• SALARY
The CITY agrees to pay EMPLOYEE the sum of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars and no/100 dollars ($150,000), in salary per annum, retroactive to April 30, 2008.

• AUTOMOBILE
The CITY shall pay EMPLOYEE the sum of three hundred and fifty dollars ($350.00) per month as an automobile allowance.

• SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFITS
The CITY shall continue to provide dental and vision coverage through the CITY’S current self-funded programs, the cost of an annual physical exam up to an amount not to exceed $500 per fiscal year, reimbursement to EMPLOYEE for the cost of a monthly fitness club membership in an amount not to exceed $35.00 per month and one hundred (100) hours annual Administrative Leave per fiscal year.

• BUSINESS EXPENSES
The CITY shall provide a City cellular telephone and, in addition, pay for the monthly service charge and related CITY user charges.

COMMENT:
Based of City Administrator Rich Guillen’s poor management record over a period of nearly eight years (January 1, 2001 – Present), a new contractual agreement for a salary of $150,000 plus benefits is impossible to justify to Carmel-by-the-Sea taxpayers. Alas, it appears $150,000 plus is the going rate to make it appear that the City has a competent City Administrator, when in reality Rich Guillen functions as the mayor’s lackey.

NOTES:
Earlier in his tenure as City Administrator, Rich Guillen advocated for the creation of a new administrative position; this administrative position would have had the duties and responsibilities of essentially managing the city while the City Administrator continued to be compensated as City Administrator.

Recently, at the September 9, 2008 City Council Meeting, City Administrator Rich Guillen stated “we’re all for reducing the number of boards and commissions” because it takes “a lot of staff time to prepare agendas and meet with chairs and deal with the time involved...”

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

It is unbelievable that the city council would authorize $150,000 plus very substantial benefits for an incompetent city administrator. It wouldn't be difficult to find a more competent person for less since almost anyone could do a better job. The one drawback however would be that a new competent city manager would have enough pride to actually want to do the job properly. That would prevent Sue McCloud from micromanaging city staff and doing a poor job in the bargain. Rich Guillen is already overpaid. Why would the members of the city council, excluding McCloud, want to pay him more to continue to do a such a poor job?

Anonymous said...

During my lifetime, I have lived in cities with mediocre city managers and outstanding city managers. Rich Guillen compares unfavorably to all of them. He is a passive man, waiting for direction from the council on everything, not a trait of a good manager. He seems not to have any areas of expertise I can see. Certainly, the budget and city finances are beyond him. When he does follow council direction, he is slow and ineffectual. City employees must have a difficult time working under him, a man they cannot respect.

Anonymous said...

the council must think we are a bunch of dummies. $150,000 annually for this yes-man may be the going rate, but I would much rather have a city manager I could feel is competent and looking out for carmel residents and carmel.
Don't forget his stupid remark about going to monterey library on sundays when carmel's library is closed. What a bad deal to know we have such a bad city administrator. And come to think of it, don't forget the taxpayer funded ad in the newspaper against the firefighters after he told them he was personally for the merger with PG and Monterey. Rich Guillen is not what our city needs, now or ever.

VillageinForest said...

At a time when the City must find approximately $400,000/year for 3 new full-time line firefighters (6 firefighters now to be increased to 9 firefighters, as recommended by the Citygate Associates Fire Department Consolidation Feasibility Study), it is particularly inappropriate and imprudent for the City Council to approve an increase in salary and benefits to City Administrator Rich Guillen at this time.

Anonymous said...

Any amount of money is too much money for incompetence!