HomeMy Public PortalAboutVillageCouncilWorkshopMinutes_December14_2021BAL HARBOUR
- VILLAGE -
Mayor Gabriel Groisman
Vice Mayor Seth E. Salver
Councilman David J. Albaum
Councilman Jeffrey P. Freimark
Councilman Buzzy Sklar
Village Manager Jorge M. Gonzalez
Village Clerk Dwight S. Danie
Village Attorneys Weiss Serota
Helfman Cole & Bierman, P.L.
Bal Harbour Village Council
Workshop Minutes
December 14, 2021
At 6:30 PM
Bal Harbour Village Hall • 655 - 96th Street • Bal Harbour • Florida 33154
This workshop was conducted in -person and virtually via "Zoom" in order to
minimize exposure to the Coronavirus to Councilmembers and members of the
public. The workshop was also broadcast on the Village's website
(www.balharbourfl.gov) and members of the public were encouraged to
participate by email (meetings@balharbourfl.gov) or by telephone at 305-865-
6449.
CALL TO ORDER - Vice Mayor Salver called the workshop regarding the compensation of
the Village Manager to order at 6:26 P.M.
The following were present:
Mayor Gabriel Groisman (via Zoom)
Vice Mayor Seth Salver
Councilman David Albaum
Councilman Jeffrey Freimark
Councilman Buzzy Sklar
Also present:
Jorge M. Gonzalez, Village Manager
Dwight S. Danie, Village Clerk
Robert Meyers, Deputy Village Attorney
Councilman Freimark began the conversation saying that looking at all the Village
Managers 2021 accomplishments, that the Village Manager's earned a total of $353,782
in 2021, which was comprised of a lump sum bonus and a base salary of $303 thousand.
He proposed a 6% increase of the base salary, $322,009, no COLA and a 15% bonus,
($45,567, which represented an overall 3.9% increase in total compensation.
Councilman Sklar said that he would like to get to the same place in a different way adding
that the bar was being set so high for whoever comes in next. He proposed keeping the
base salary flat and awarding a bonus of $64 thousand to get to the same place.
Dwight S. Dane, Village Clerk
Mayor Groisman asked what the total compensation including retirement would be,
adding that he thought the total retirement benefit was around $145 thousand and then
asked what are the comparables with other municipal managers.
Council Freimark said that the contributions to defined benefit plan might be difficult to
obtain, in that retirement is not disclosed separately.
Mayor Groisman said that he believed the proposed increase was way above what is
reasonable in the market, saying that it would be hard to hire another manager in the
future, and asked that the Administration try to obtain total compensation numbers.
Councilman Freimark said that he didn't think the Council was well prepared to have the
discussion this night and suggested that the discussion be deferred until the Council's
2022 March Retreat.
Mr. Gonzalez said that there are two issues, the first being compensation and second being
pension. He asked that the Council consider some adjustment to the base since it has not
changed in three years.
Councilman Sklar said although the Manager has done a great job, and that he would not
like to see anybody else in the position, that at the end of the day, it's total compensation
and that he needs to consider is fiduciary responsibilities to the Village. He said that he was
also looking to the future when the next manager is hired.
Councilman Freimark said that he was far less concerned with the successor because it ties
the skill sets, length of service and everything else. He urged that, if deferred, whatever is
done is retroactive prefer defer whole item
Mr. Gonzalez suggested that the Council appoint a designee from the Council for more a
more intricate conversation to which Councilman Freimark volunteered and the Council
agreed.
ADJOURNMENT - The workshop was adjourned at 6:41 P.
Mayo Gabriel Groisman
Bal Harbour Village Council Workshop Minutes — December 14, 2021
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