City gives manager job to May

The interim tag is off. Sam May is now Margate City Manager.

At a meeting last week, Margate city officials approved an employment contract appointing May to the city’s top administrative post. His annual base salary will be $91,052.

One of the conditions set by May when he became interim city manager was that he would revert to his former position as public works director of the city of he so wished. That clause, which was originally part of the employment agreement, was taken out at the insistence of city officials.

The vote to approve the contract with May wasn’t unanimous. While Mayor Tommy Ruzzano as well as commissioners Lesa Peerman and Anthony Caggiano voted to approve it, Vice Mayor Arlene Schwartz and Commissioner Joanne Simone voted ‘no.’

Both Schwartz and Simone were against offering May a contract without an evaluation. “We talked a lot tonight about accountability; there is no accountability,” said Simone. “We talked about wanting benchmarks for strategic planning. We are going to give a contract without an evaluation. I don’t think we should do that.”

May’s annual salary when he was appointed interim city manager was $178,000, which was what his predecessor, Doug Smith, was making. Schwartz said she was against giving a $12,000 raise and wanted May to provide a list of accomplishments as well as “measurable goals and objectives.”

“The city commission does an annual evaluation of its charter officers,” said Schwartz. “We have not done that. That should be done, certainly before and not after an annual salary increase and contracts are agreed upon. A year hasn’t gone by. A $12,000 raise is something I can’t swallow.”

Simone seconded Schwartz’s motion to table the contract until May provided the list of accomplishments and goals, but that was defeated 3-2.

I welcome the constructive criticism that I get from each and every one of you,” May said. “I want to improve. I want to make the city look good. I want to make the city commission look good.”