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Grieshaber weighing final offer for manager

Indian Rocks Beach is offering a $118,790 salary and benefits package for the city manager's job.

By SHEILA MULLANE ESTRADA
Published February 12, 2006

INDIAN ROCKS BEACH - Tuesday, residents here will find out whether they have a permanent city manager.

That is when the commission will learn whether Al Grieshaber Jr. will accept a salary nearly $20,000 less than he wants.

The city offered Grieshaber the job in December, months after he assumed the interim post following the resignation of former City Manager John Coffey. Grieshaber was one of three finalist candidates formally interviewed by the commission for the permanent post.

After two months of negotiations, Grieshaber and the commission are still far apart in both salary and benefits.

In December, the city offered Grieshaber a $78,000 salary, a city car and three weeks' annual vacation, plus standard benefits. The position had been advertised at a salary range of $70,000 to $100,000.

Grieshaber sharply raised the ante earlier this month, asking for a $102,500 salary and a hefty benefits package valued at up to $195,000, arguing that given his qualifications and the city's past history of instability, he was worth it.

"His argument is he is a known commodity, that he came in amid disarray and feels like he righted the ship," City Attorney Andy Salzman told the commission last week.

The commission agreed they were pleased with Grieshaber's job performance, but sharply rejected his proposed contract and instead offered an $84,000 salary and sharply scaled back benefits.

"This is the oldest game in the book," said Commissioner Jeremiah Carmody, reacting to Grieshaber's proposed contract. "You ask for the world, hoping to get some extras that will shake out of it. This is not only unreasonable, it is kind of insulting."

Grieshaber's interim contract was to expire Feb. 1, but was extended to allow more time for negotiations.

"We need to throw a reasonable number out on the table and see if Al really wants the job," said Mayor Bill Ockunzzi.

After poring over Grieshaber's proposed contract for more than an hour, the commission trimmed the $195,000 package of salary and benefits to a total value of $118,790.

Gone were more than $50,000 in requested benefits, including extra vacation, sick time, retirement contributions and housing. Other benefits tied to the salary amount were automatically cut back.

Grieshaber, who left the meeting during the contract discussion, later asked for an additional week to "study" the offer and discuss it with his family.

The commission agreed, but made clear no further extensions will be granted. Grieshaber now has until the commission's meeting Tuesday night to give his answer.

"There is no doubt Mr. Grieshaber has the ability to command that salary somewhere else," said resident Victor Wood, calling Grieshaber's requested $102,500 salary "beyond our ability to pay."

Before taking the interim post in Indian Rocks Beach, Grieshaber was city manager in Sanford. Previously, he was city attorney for Albany, Ga., and served in a series of legal posts for the U.S. Marines, including as executive assistant to the commanding general of Camp Butler in Okinawa, Japan. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1964 to 1987, retiring as a lieutenant colonel.

Commissioners compared Grieshaber's salary request to that paid other beach area city managers and found that only St. Pete Beach pays its manager a higher amount ($103,313). In addition, several other managers make less than what Grieshaber asked, even though they supervise more employees and are responsible for local law enforcement and fire departments.

"This offer is non-negotiable," said Carmody.

If Grieshaber accepts the commission's offer, he will become the city's official city manager.

If he does not, Wednesday will be his last day running the city government.

[Last modified February 12, 2006, 00:26:20]