Ethics Board Tables Decision on Pay Raise for Board Attorney

UPDATED

The Independent Ethics Board tabled their decision on a pay raise for Attorney John Reid at their May 19 meeting. Reid has been the Board Counsel to the Ethics Board since Feb. 2019.

ORIGINAL

The Independent Ethics Board is considering a pay raise for Attorney John Reid at their May 19 meeting. Reid has been the Board Counsel to the Ethics Board since Feb. 2019.

Staff recommends a pay increase from $125 per hour to $250 per hour.

The Board’s contract with Reid initially set his compensation at $125 per hour from Feb. 7, 2019 to Sept. 30, 2019. Under the contract, both parties were supposed to meet before Sept. 1 of each year to negotiate his hourly rate, but both agreed to delay negotiations. Staff now recommends raising his pay rate to $250 per hour, effective from May 19, 2020 to Sept. 1, 2021.

Reid noted that the pay raise would not increase the total cap he can be paid, so it would not affect the Ethics Board’s budget.

Board members expressed concern that making the decision without the opportunity for public input would cause concerns among the public. Board member Richard Herring made a motion to delay the final decision until the next meeting in order to give the public an opportunity to give input. He stipulated that, if approved, the pay raise would be retroactive to today’s date.

Reid is a graduate of the University of Miami School of Law and has been a licensed attorney since 2000, according to his website.

As the Board Counsel to the Ethics Board, Reid is responsible for reviewing ethics complaints against City officials and overseeing prosecutions if necessary. Reid also took part in drafting the ethics ordinance passed by the City Commission at the end of 2019.