Longboat commissioners to consider new town manager contract at next meeting

The meeting will be held on Monday, July 17, at 1 p.m.

By John McGuire
| 8:30 a.m. July 13, 2017

Longboat Key Town Manager Dave Bullock (left), Sarasota County Administrator Tom Harmer (right)

Longboat Key
News

The Longboat Key Town Commission will consider a contract with a new town manager on Monday.

Town Manager Dave Bullock announced this year his plan to retire in early 2018. In June, commissioners directed Bullock to pursue Tom Harmer, the Sarasota County Administrator, as his replacement.

Key contract provisions

Pay: $187,000 annually.

Duration: Five years (Dec. 11, 2017-2022) with automatic three-year extension (unless a supermajority of five commissioners vote to decline extension). Year-to-year extensions after 2025.

Termination terms: If for cause, no severance. If terminated without cause, Harmer would be entitled to 20 weeks of compensation and benefits.

Annual performance review: Town Commission may evaluate job performance at least once annual on or before Sept. 15 of each year of employment.

Benefits: Life insurance three times annual salary; the town will pay all health and dental insurance on the same basis as at-will town employees; disability insurance, on the same basis as at-will town employees; annual physical each fiscal year; vacation time equal to a 15-year town employee; paid long-term insurance not to exceed $7,000 a year; retirement benefits equaling 17.8% salary ($33,286) deposited in a deferred compensation account.

Read the full contract here

On Wednesday, Harmer told the County Commission he has accepted Longboat’s offer, which includes an annual salary of $187,000, pending Town Commission approval.

Commissioners will discuss the contract at the group’s next regular meeting, which will be held at Longboat Key Town Hall on Monday, July 17, at 1 p.m.

The meeting’s agenda also includes setting a maximum millage rate for the 2017-18 fiscal year, as well as a discussion of an amendment to the town’s contract with Town Attorney Maggie Mooney-Portale. This amendment includes eliminating Mooney-Portale’s monthly retainer fee of $20,312.50 in favor of a straight-hourly rate of $235 for all services.

The full meeting agenda can be found here.