NEWTON FALLS — After a lengthy discussion at a two-hour meeting Friday, village council voted 3-2 to grant Manager Pam Priddy an amended new four-year contract that will increase her salary to $90,000 annually.

Voting in support of the new contract were council members John Baryak, who is acting mayor, Gideon Fetterolf and Tesa Spletzer. Voting against were council members Kevin Rufener and Julie Stimpert.

Because the meeting was moved to Friday and took place 90 minutes earlier than the usual 6 p.m., fewer people were in attendance.

Priddy, who has been performing as manager for two years, will receive the new contract effective Oct. 20. Her current pay of $60,000 will be increased to $90,000. She will not be entitled to overtime.

The contract will expire upon the completion of all of the following projects: the Scott Street sewer project, the Community Center renovation project, the River Grant Project and the 2024 road project, or a period of 48 months, ending on Oct. 19, 2027, whichever is sooner.

If council terminates the agreement prior to its expiration date, the city manager shall be entitled to a minimum severance payment equal to the total amount due for the remaining months left on the contract, unless the city manager materially breaches the contract by the commission of misfeasance, malfeasance, or nonfeasance in office or being convicted of a felony.

As part of the agreement, Priddy will have the authority to hire a professional assistant of her choosing with the salary to be negotiated by her.

Except as expressly stated in the agreement, the city manager shall be eligible to receive the same fringe benefits and across the board raises to which other nonunion employees are entitled. She also will get an increase in her vacation time from five to six weeks and will be covered under the village’s public officials’ liability insurance policy.

COUNCIL COMMENTS

Council members expressed their views on why Priddy should or should not receive the new agreement. Fetterolf said the contract is “appropriate” for all Priddy has done in the past two years, including working for eight months with no pay.

He said other communities with city managers are paying much more.

“People do not realize all she has done for the community,” Fetterolf said, noting grants and funding for projects, savings on insurance and other expenses, and working to get the city out of debt.

“We are getting a good deal with her with all she has done to move the city forward,” he said.

Rufener said Priddy has served less than three years in the position and the only viable termination of the agreement would be if she commits a felony. He said two members of the five-member council did an evaluation of Priddy and recommended the contract.

Rufener said the agreement allows Priddy to hire a paid assistant, so the contract is for more than $90,000. He also questioned her need for an assistant.

“This position is based on the qualifications , skills, knowledge and abilities and the certification and accreditation that is brought to the table….Enough is enough. It is time we seek out qualified professionals in the field of municipal government and pay them a regular salary,” Rufener said.

He said the termination clause in the agreement is nothing more than “a protection clause.” Rufener said some members of council wanted to get the ordinance passed before the new council is voted on in November.

Rufener said he checked various online sites that showed village managers without benefits on average are paid between $56,000 and $76,000. He said on the lower end is $48,000 and on the higher end $110,000.

Baryak said Sebring, which is smaller than Newton Falls, gave their city manager $73,000 with benefits.

“I would like to give her double what she is getting because there is no one in the history of this town who has done more than what she has done and shown what she is capable of doing,” Baryak said.

He said other candidates for the position in past years wanted $100,000 to $130,000.

Fetterolf said he doubts the village could find anyone else to do all the work in overseeing various departments for $90,000.

“I do not believe you can find someone better for less,” he said.

RESIDENTS’ COMMENTS

Resident Condie Bright, who is running for council, said he can’t find anywhere a work agreement that an employee cannot be removed unless they are guilty of a felony.

He said some members of council were against a similar agreement given for the former village manager, police chief, finance director and clerk that had similar termination clauses.

“You were against that. The village spent taxpayers’ money to fight all the lawsuits,” Bright said, questioning the check and balance in the agreement.

Resident Chelsea Harper said just because “someone is doing their job does not earn them that much money.”

Resident Matthew Meszaros said Priddy will continue to move the community forward in the next four years.