Remove ImagesSome Change in City Salary List
June 16, 2011
Coliseum Director Matt Brown usually has to answer tough questions when he is before the City Council, and some might think that he isn't the council's favorite employee.
But if you look at the salary list, Brown is paid $212,332, while his boss, City Manager Rashad Young, is paid $179,500. It would appear that, where it counts, the City Council likes Brown a lot.
It is also revealing that Brown is paid almost $100,000 more than the second in command at the Coliseum Scott Johnson, who is paid $115,007. It's another indication of how much the City Council likes Brown.
Young, Brown, Johnson and most city employees are being paid exactly what they were last year. Unlike most employees, Young had automatic raises in his contract that he has turned down.
It's unusual for the city manager not to be the highest paid employee, but the third highest paid city employee is absolutely incredible. The third highest paid city employee cannot legally do the job that she was hired to do, doesn't meet the minimum qualifications for the job and has not bothered to learn the basics of her job in her six months as an employee.
City Attorney Rita Danish, who has been with the city for exactly six months, is paid $173,500. Although she is the Greensboro city attorney, she is not licensed to practice law in North Carolina. But Danish is an old friend of Young's and has worked with him in two cities, which in this case was more important than meeting the minimum qualifications for the job.
Danish in fact reached an agreement to leave her position as city attorney on Wednesday, shortly before The Rhino Times went to press.
To see just how overpaid Danish has been, you have to jump down the list to Deputy City Manager Bob Morgan at $149,912, who has over 30 years experience in municipal government and is retiring in November. Morgan is qualified to do his job but is paid about $23,000 less than Danish. Former City Attorney Terry Wood, who was licensed to practice law in North Carolina and had over 20 years experience with the City Legal Department, was paid $165,000 before he retired last year.
But there are other changes at the top of the list, other than Wood being replaced by Danish. Former Police Chief Tim Bellamy, who was being paid $128,899 last year, has been replaced by Police Chief Ken Miller, who is being paid $137,900. Former Planning Director Dick Hails, who was on last year's list at $111,543, has left the city and is now working for Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation (PART). No one has been hired to replace him.
Jeri Covington, who was the director of environmental services last year, making $109,655, has left and is now working in private industry. Her department was rolled into the Field Operations Department under the direction of Dale Wyrick, who continues to make $108,919, just like he did last year before being given another entire department to supervise.
Last year Pat Boswell, who was the director of public affairs, was still making $109,888, even though her new job with the city was as a consultant with human resources. This year Boswell is still a consultant in the Human Resources Department, but she is being paid $87,000.
Allen Williams, the director of water resources, has announced he is retiring in August. He is number five on this list at $145,611, but he won't be there next year. He is also going to work in the private sector.
Since last year, Police Lt. James Hinson was promoted to captain. So Hinson also received a salary increase. Last year he was being paid $73,088, and now that he is Capt. Hinson, he is being paid $77,088. It makes him the fifth highest paid captain in the department and means he is being paid more than a number of captains with more seniority. The highest paid police officer is Harry Rowland who is paid $63,263.
The city currently has 30 employees who make over $100,000 a year.
Click here for a PDF list of all Greensboro city salaries