Dade City angles for manager with $75,000

Once a contract is set, he will start March 17.

By Helen Anne Travis, Times Staff Writer
Published February 27, 2008

DADE CITY - In a few weeks, Billy Poe will take his place as Dade City's new city manager.

Tuesday, he watched from the audience as commissioners discussed his salary and benefits package.

Poe will be offered $75,000 and a combined monthly car and cell phone allowance of no more than $150. He'll also receive health insurance and paid time off.

Commissioners also discussed upping the city's contribution to his retirement plan every five years as an incentive to keep him around.

"We have a great candidate," said Mayor Hutch Brock. "We have a great future ahead of us. I would like to have an incentive for him to stay."

Once an agreement is made, Poe is slated to begin his new job March 17.

Jim Class, interim city manager, also addressed the city's other major vacancy: chief of police. He said he is conducting background checks on two candidates.

"I actually hope that by the next commission meeting, all that will be done," he said.

In other news

-Before the meeting, Commissioner Steve Van Gorden - who is running for re-election in April - said he unknowingly violated Florida election law and collected donations before establishing a campaign treasurer.

"Nothing was done with any malicious intent," Van Gorden said Tuesday. "I thought I was doing the right thing."

Van Gorden said he followed the same steps as when he ran for the commission in 2004 and did not realize he had broken any rules. He plans to refund the money to anyone who donated funds before he established his campaign treasurer at the end of December 2007.

-The city introduced an ordinance restricting temporary commercial sales on private property. If approved, only Christmas trees and wreaths, pumpkins and fireworks sales will be allowed. These sales will only be permitted for four weeks in any six-month period, and will only be allowed on commercial, professional, office, industrial or agricultural zoning districts, according to the ordinance.

Temporary public works facilities would not be restricted.

An existing fruit stand on U.S. 301 will be grandfathered in if the ordinance is approved, officials said. Public hearings on the ordinance will be held at future meetings.

Helen Anne Travis can be reached at htravis@sptimes.com or 352 521-6518.

[Last modified February 26, 2008, 21:26:06]