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City narrowly approves manager's raise

The mayor votes against increasing City Manager Steven Stanton's salary for the second consecutive year.

By SHANNON TAN
Published August 17, 2005

LARGO - City commissioners voted 4-3 Tuesday to approve a 4 percent raise for City Manager Steven Stanton.

Mayor Bob Jackson and Commissioners Mary Gray Black and Jean Halvorsen voted against the raise. There was virtually no discussion on the issue, but Jackson and Black had already criticized Stanton in written evaluations.

Halvorsen said after the meeting that she disagreed with the percentage of the increase, which raises Stanton's annual salary from $124,000 to $128,960.

Jackson recommended that Stanton not receive a raise this year. His was the only vote against a 3 percent raise for Stanton last year, citing concerns about excessive spending and the firing of a Public Works employee.

Jackson's frustration with Stanton often spills over during commission meetings, when he complains about his limited powers as mayor. The two have also clashed over how the strategic plan should be implemented.

But Jackson acknowledged Tuesday that he is only one of seven commissioners.

Vice Mayor Gay Gentry said Stanton received an overall score of 2.76 out of 4, which is a B average. She recommended that Stanton get the same pay raise as other executive management employees, which is 4 percent for fiscal 2006.

"I think that (Stanton) is certainly cognizant of all the areas he needs improvement," Gentry said.

Two residents chimed in on the issue at Tuesday's meeting.

"Go ahead and give him his raise," Curtis Holmes said. "He's a good city manager."

J.B. Butler, a charter review committee member, said he's voted for Jackson before but can no longer support him.

"Mr. Mayor, when you start working for yourself and your career and your ambitions, you are no longer working for the city of Largo," Butler said. "I am aware the mayor is actively leading a campaign to gut the current structure of Largo's city government. ... He wants to receive enhanced powers so he can veto decisions of other commissioners."

Butler's comments came after Jackson interrupted him during a charter review committee discussion Aug. 10. Jackson was incensed after Butler said a mayor derives his strength from how well he gets along with the commission.

"Thom Feaster is an example of one who did that, and the present mayor is one who ignores that," Butler said during that meeting.

Butler sent a letter Monday saying Jackson's ambitions to become a "power" mayor will harm the city.

Jackson apologized to the charter review committee Tuesday.

"I lost it last week during the meeting," he said. "I got upset and sounded off. I felt it was a personal attack, and I responded."

In other action, commissioners voted 6-1 to approve an ordinance requiring new big box stores to soften their appearance with architectural features and limit their maximum building footprint to 125,000 square feet. A final vote and public hearing will be Sept. 6.

Pinellas County officials also voiced concern over the annexation of Bay Vista office park, saying it would create "pockets" of unincorporated areas and result in inefficient delivery of services. But Largo commissioners voted unanimously to approve the annexation.

Shannon Tan can be reached at 727 445-4174 or shtan@sptimes.com

[Last modified August 17, 2005, 01:09:16]