The city of Indio gave their city manager, Claremont refugee Glenn Southard, a performance review recently. Turns out Indio likes Southard a great deal more than a lot of Claremonters did. Southard was granted a three-year contract extension by the Indio City Council. However, Southard was not given a raise this year because of the city's uncertain budget prospects and because of the bad economy.
Southard's zero raise will make for an interesting comparison to tomorrow night's unveiling of Claremont's new contract terms for current city manager Jeff Parker.
After the council had awarded Southard his contract, they announced they are facing a $14 million budget deficit. At least they had the good graces to save the bad news for last. The Desert Sun covered the Indio news:
“We're very pleased with his performance this past year … so we're very eager to have him commit,” said [Indio Mayor Melanie] Fesmire.
Despite the council's satisfaction, Southard did not receive a raise because of the economy she said.
“He certainly deserves it. We'd like to give it to him … but there's so much uncertainty (with the economy),” Fesmire said.
Southard started April 18, 2005 with a base salary of $240,000, but now is making $300,000 a year. In June 2007 he received a one-time performance bonus of $30,000.
In the middle of a national recession and faced with tight times, Fesmire said it will be important to have a seasoned manager like Southard at the helm.
“We're going to have to make some hard decisions in the next year,” she said. “He's going to be a valuable asset.”
One of the challenges will be dealing with a projected $14 million shortfall in the operating budget for fiscal year 2009-2010.
Southard said $4 million of the city's $14 million general fund reserve will need to be used to lower the deficit to $10 million.
An Indio reader wrote to alert us to the Desert Sun article. The Indio reader had some choice comments and a warning about Southard's longtime assistant, who is currently running for a seat on Claremont's City Council:
DATE: Saturday, January 10, 2009 9:45:31 AM
SUBJECT: (no subject)
TO: Claremont Buzz,
Have you checked out the Desert Sun this morning in the Coachella Valley? Glenn Southard gets a three year extension on his contract and the City announces a 14 million dollar deficit. After two years of telling the Community that the City Budget was fine. This is part of Bridget Healy's Legacy, and the Claremont residents should know before they elect her.
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