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Commissioners cited Chuck Coward's work on beautifying downtown, improving city facilities and planning a new beach center at Sunset Beach as examples of the good he has done for the city.
By KATHY SAUNDERS
© St. Petersburg Times, published April 9, 2000
TREASURE ISLAND -- Praising Chuck Coward's handling of municipal projects, which they called cutting-edge, commissioners are expected to increase the city manager's annual salary by $7,000.
The raise from $71,496 to $78,496 a year -- about 10 percent -- also puts Coward in a ballpark with his contemporaries. (See box this page.)
Commissioners on Tuesday said Coward's pay hike was based on a survey of other area managers from cities with similarly sized staffs, budgets and populations. St. Pete Beach's Carl Schwing still makes more money -- $82,172 a year -- but "this raise will put them on a more even keel," Mayor Leon Atkinson said. Of Coward: "He's just a good match for this city at this time."
"I think his performance has been excellent," said Commissioner Butch Ellsworth. The commission cited the beautification of the downtown area, the improvements to city facilities and the plans for a new beach center at Sunset Beach.
Coward, 56, received ratings of excellent or good on all 11 questions posed to commissioners in a two-page evaluation. Some of the rankings dealt with how well Coward manages the city budget, his ability to promote morale among employees and his relationships with other cities.
Ellsworth lauded Coward for his ability to make improvements in the police department this year, saying he made the right decision in November to hire outside consultants.
Coward tried to be a little self-critical, saying he wants to do a better job of keeping the commission updated on the progress of city projects. He recently began including a regular status report in each meeting agenda packet.
Coward said he also wants to stay more on top of issues in his own profession. Atkinson defended Coward on that issue, saying he was glad the manager has not left the city to attend a lot of seminars and other career events.
In an evaluation of his personality, Coward received mostly excellent remarks, with praise for his sense of humor, self-confidence and friendliness.
Commissioners also plan to give the city manager an extra $1,000-a-year car allowance. Coward, who prefers to drive his own car rather than use a city vehicle, soon will get $4,000 a year toward gas and repairs.
The March 23 evaluation was Coward's third since becoming manager in 1997. Last year, Coward received a similarly glowing review and an 8 percent raise.
"I think he's worth it," Atkinson said.
Here are the city manager salaries from cities with comparable populations, budgets and employees.
Treasure Island
Salary
(current) $71,496
(with pending raise) $78,646
Population 7,355
Employees 135
Budget $13.5-million
St. Pete Beach
Salary $82,172
Population 9,650
Employees 160
Budget $13.7-million)
Gulfport
Salary $79,761
Population 11,960
Employees 150
Budget $18.5-million
Seminole
Salary $79,005
Population 10,000
Employees 150
Budget $11-million
Oldsmar
Salary $82,391
Population 10,860
Employees 102
Budget $14.7-million
Indian Rocks Beach
Salary $60,600
Population 4,500
Employees 32
Budget $5.2-million
Madeira Beach
Salary $64,400
Population 4,200
Employees 70
Budget $7.6-million
Belleair
Salary $67,000
Population 4,100
Employees 65
Budget $6.8-million