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Hernando Today

Hamilton Contract Approved

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By MICHAEL D. BATES, Hernando Today

Published: February 6, 2008

Updated: 02/05/2008 10:23 pm

BROOKSVILLE - The Hernando County Commission voted 4-1 Tuesday to ratify an employment contract for David Hamilton, paving the way for the Minnesotan to move here and take the reins of county administrator.

They agreed to start Hamilton off at $135,000 a year. After six months and a positive performance evaluation, he gets a 5 percent pay hike, raising his salary to $141,175.

Adding in benefits, including the high-end of a no-cost medical, vision and dental package, Hamilton could make close to $175,000 after his initial raise.

Commissioner Rose Rocco, who voted nay, called the contract too generous at a time when Hernando County must pinch pennies and prepare for a difficult budget year.

Throwing money at Hamilton is not a guarantee of commitment nor is it prudent when the county is considering laying off employees to stay afloat, she said.

"We're worried about keeping him on board," Rocco said. "I don't think offering him just a big piece of candy is going to do it."

Instead, Rocco proposed holding off on the 5 percent raise until the county had a clearer barometer of the economic situation. The county stands to lose between $9 million and $10 million because of the recently passed Amendment 1 property tax relief package.

"I would like to see (his) job performance before I negotiate a 5 percent increase up front," said Rocco, who pointed out that Hamilton only makes $110,000 as county administrator in Crow Wing.

Rocco also balked at allowing Hamilton the option to be reimbursed $3,000 per year for continuing his education.

The contract also includes a nonbinding five-year exclusivity clause designed to get Hamilton to commit to the job at least that long. Commissioners are hoping that Hamilton bucks the trend of the revolving door administrator. The last two county bosses resigned after less than two years.
Commission Chairman Chris Kingsley, who negotiated the contract that Hamilton has already accepted, said the package is essentially the same as that offered to the previous two administrators and is in line with other comparably sized counties.

Commissioner Diane Rowden said if the board offered him any less, she wonders who would have applied for the job. As a professional, Hamilton needs to be paid as a professional, she said.

"We're not asking for the cheapest," Rowden said. "We're asking for the best. I'm hoping that's what we have."

Also at Tuesday's meeting, county commissioners:

- Voted 5-0 to authorize interim County Administrator Larry Jennings to set up a committee consisting of representatives of the six county fire departments.

Committee members will prepare recommendations on how best to implement some of the suggestions from a recently completed consultant's fire master plan, which advocated some degree of department consolidation.

The committee will also include an appointee from the board of county commissioners, the city of Brooksville and the Spring Hill Fire Rescue board.

The board also approved a suggestion by County Commissioner David Russell to appoint a policymaker to the group to act as liaison to the county commission.

- Authorized Rocco and Jennings to draft a letter to the state environmental office and press for a retooling of the residential septic tank codes currently being used by builders.

After talking with constituents, Rocco believes the rules are outdated and have forced homeowners to make costly septic tank and drain field repairs.

"The septic tanks are too small for the way the houses are being used right now," Rocco said.

Reporter Michael D. Bates can be reached at 352-544-5290 or mbates@hernandotoday.com.

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