PROPOSAL:

Establish Compensation for Acting Executive Officer

SYNOPSIS:

At its August 8, 1997 meeting, the Board named Dr. Barry Wallerstein Acting Executive Officer effective August 1, 1997 and continuing until an Executive Officer is recruited and selected. The Board referred the issue of compensation to the Administrative Committee for its review and recommendation. This action is to establish compensation for Dr. Barry Wallerstein for the period he serves as Acting Executive Officer.

COMMITTEE:

Administrative, August 22, 1997, referred to the full Board without recommendation.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Establish compensation for Acting Executive Officer.

Dr. William A. Burke
Chairman of the Board

Background

Attached is the August 15, 1997 memorandum from Director of Administrative and Human Resources Joseph V. Contaoi (Attachment A). Mr. Contaoi advises that standard public sector practice concerning acting appointments typically requires a 10-15% salary above the highest paid employee to be supervised. The highest paid employee to be supervised by the Acting Executive Officer earns an annual salary of $115,994. Ten percent above that salary is $127,593 and fifteen percent above that salary is $133,393. A spring 1997 salary survey for the Executive Officer position reflects an average salary of $147,484. That survey, and an accompanying explanatory letter from Comp Plus, are Attachment B. The final salary of the former Executive Officer was $143,380. A list of Designated Deputy positions and current salary for each is Attachment C.

Administrative Committee

The Committee was provided with the same attachments as are included with this letter. The Committee asked for the beginning and ending salaries of James Lents, the former Executive Officer and Mr. Contaoi advised that the amounts were $95,000 (1988) and $143,380 (1997), respectively.

To begin the discussion, Chairman Glover suggested $127,593 (a 10% increase over the salary of the highest paid employee to be supervised).

The members discussed various options and Councilmember Nell Soto moved to set Acting Executive Officer Barry R. Wallerstein’s salary at $143,380. The motion resulted in a tie vote: Ayes: Burke, Silva, Soto; Noes: Alarcón, Glover, Lee.

A motion by Councilman Alarcón to set the salary at $133,393 (15% increase over the salary of the highest paid employee to be supervised) also resulted in a tie vote: Ayes: Alarcón, Glover, Lee; Noes: Burke, Silva, Soto.

This item therefore was referred to the full Board, without recommendation, for consideration at its September 12, 1997 meeting.

Proposal

Establish compensation for Dr. Barry Wallerstein for the period commencing August 1, 1997 and continuing during the period he is Acting Executive Officer.

Fiscal Impacts

Sufficient funds are budgeted in the FY 1997-98 budget.

Attachments

A - August 15, 1997 memorandum from Joseph V. Contaoi

B - Salary Survey and May 13, 1997 letter from Comp Plus

C - Summary of Designated Deputies’ Salaries

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