Will Bishop gets a new administrator contract? It’ll have to wait, officials say
Manatee County Commissioners unanimously voted to extend County Administrator Charlie Bishop’s contract through February — putting an end to debate over a new contract.
After a lengthy discussion at the April 7 commission meeting, Bishop’s contract returned to the agenda on Tuesday with Commissioner Bob McCann’s proposal to extend the contract through the end of the year. Instead, commissioners agreed to extend Bishop’s existing contract for six months from August, which is when Bishop’s contract is set to expire.
The rest of Bishop’s current contract will remain the same. Commissioner Tal Siddique said, after recent talks, Bishop agreed to hold off on further contract negotiations and let Bishop focus on other county matters.
“We both feel that perhaps it’s good to provide our citizens just a little bit more time and focus on storm preparation, a few more productive things than back and forth over a contract,” Siddique said.
Earlier this month, commissioners debated terms of a new contract for Bishop. The discussion included how many votes would be needed for removal, emergency overtime pay, annual raises and vacation time accrual. The proposed contract would include a starting salary of $255,000, which matches his current salary.
Commissioners delay administrator contract talks
Other commissioners agreed that extending the contract would allow Bishop and commissioners to discuss the terms, and give the public more chances to provide input.
Commissioner George Kruse said he’s confident Bishop will remain the county administrator, but “it just made sense at this point in time” to delay the negotiations.
Another reason some commissioners pointed to was to allow potential new board members a chance to give their input. Four commission seats are up for election in November.
“This board should have somebody overseeing their staff that they support, and I do agree that having contracts expire immediately prior to elections are not good for the public and not good for this board as a whole, and trying to cram additional payout provision in looks and feels — even if it wasn’t the intent — as more of a poison pill,” Kruse said. “And that poison pill is borne at the expense of the citizens of Manatee County who would have to pay it.”
McCann also proposed the county pay up to $3,000 in attorney fees for Bishop’s attorney, who he hired to help negotiate the new contract. That addition, along with the contract extension, was approved unanimously with Commissioner Jason Bearden absent.
