Council holds off on giving Szerlag a raise
City Manager John Szerlag won’t be getting a pay increase at this time, but more than likely will when his current contract expires at the end of May.
That was the general consensus of City Council at its meeting Monday night when Councilmem-ber John Carioscia brought the subject up as an unfinished business discussion. Carioscia proposed an immediate 5 percent pay increase retroactive to June.
The word retroactive drew immediate opposition from most council members. Council voted to extend Szerlag’s contract for one year through May 2016 at a meeting two weeks ago at which time they also shot down an immediate increase.
“This is not the right time to talk about a raise for the city manager until we deal with the general employees union,” said Councilmember Derrick Donnell. “Right now it’s all about perception. The ship is wavering. He has earned it, but we have 700 employees who see this and they want a retro raise, too.”
The city is in the beginning stages of negotiating with the general union, which is asking for the same 5 percent retro raise that was afforded the police and fire unions as well as the 5 percent 2015 fiscal year that began Oct. 1, 2014.
“I am not in favor of a retro raise,” said Councilmember Richard Leon. “I would favor a 5 percent raise for the next contract term at the end of May.”
Mayor Marni Sawicki sided with Leon, saying, “I’m not OK with it to retro it to a prior budget year. I want him to finish the three-legged stool – the Fire Service Assessment. I never heard of rewarding someone six months ahead of time.”
Seeing the wall form against his proposal, Carioscia countered with a 3 percent raise effective Oct. 1. Councilmember Lenny Nesta supported that idea indicating Szerlag had done enough in his 2 1/2 years to deserve a raise.
Carioscia added, “The job of the city manager is done (on the FSA), he has brought it all the way to the Florida Supreme Court to decide which way to go. He has not had a raise in 2 1/2 years. The merit is there, he deserves a raise.”
Councilmember Jim Burch said, “A retro raise for the city manager is not the same as negotiations with the other unions because they started in July. It was a matter of retro pay or be taken to court. I have all of the information and evaluations I need come May.”
Councilmember Rick Williams chimed in, “I think the raise should accompany the contract period in May. I favor holding back until May and hopefully by then we will know the FSA decision and how our finances are going.”
After the debate, Carioscia tabled his proposal for a later date closer to the expiration of the city manager’s contract.
A planned development project for a 32-acre site on Pine Island Road in Northeast Cape Coral won council approval 8-0 during Monday’s final public hearing.
The owners – Liberty Health Park, LLC – sought permission to subdivide the parcel into nine tracts and were granted nine special exceptions for the land use.
Only one of the uses as automotive repair & service station is allowed; or only one auto service station with convenience store, or auto service with full repair service, or self service fuel pumps, or self service fuel pump station is allowed in the development.
Business office, contractor & builders group, enclosed storage, or wholesale establishment uses are not allowed to have frontage on Pine Island Road or NE 24th Avenue.
The complex, expecting a six-year build-out period, would include internal roads, easements and bike lanes. Developers must submit specific site plans for approval before permits and construction can begin.
“I’m excited about this,” said Leon. “We really are starving to develop that area.”
Council also approved an ordinance for a proposed land swap between the city and Deltona Corporation. Council agreed to trade its property at 200 Old Burnt Store Road and $26,800 cash for 31 parcels owned by Deltona and scattered through the city’s northeast and northwest sections. The city purchased the Old Burnt Store parcel for $13 million in a 2012 land acquisition.
The city plans to use the 31 parcels for utilities easements, lift stations, boat ramps, Festival Park, public safety facilities, pump stations and above ground storage of water, retention ponds and well sites.
The next regular council meeting is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 8.