Fair Haven Borough Administrator Mary Howell in early 2008.
The Fair Haven Council earlier this week OK'd a three-year contract with Mary Howell to stay on as borough administrator, throwing in raises of nearly six percent a year, today's Asbury Park Press reports.
The pact will boost Howell's salary to $99,000 this year, $105,000 next year and $111,000 in the third year, the newspaper reports.
Howell was hired as administrator in early 2007 at a salary of $80,000, the Press says. Then 28 years old, she had worked as deputy administrator in Eastamptom Township, in Burlington County.
The article doesn't say if Howell has gotten any raises in the interim.
The deal met some resistance from both the council and the public. From the Press:
salary increase. Council watchdog Ruth Blaser questioned the contract
at Monday's council meeting.
"Few people are getting raises, and 6 percent is a big increase," Blaser told the council.
Halfacre
said "high-level" employees such as Howell, the police chief and the
public works supervisor have annual goals set for them in each yearly
review. Howell will receive a $300 allowance for use of her own car in
lieu of a borough vehicle and no other compensation.
struggled with the amount and the increase. The vote (4-2 to approve)
was not unanimous, but by any measure, she was still underpaid," he
said.