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.
Snidely totally on topic.
At $250.00 per hour:
A quick #1 including the mandatory no more than 3 shakes or your playing with IT, hair combing, and proper "sing happy birthday twice" hand washing would mean he just got paid $25.00!!!
Now let's see how much a typical #2 would cost us:
Actually thats kind of gross to think about but it could go into some serious cost overruns at $60.00 to $75.00!!!
Hell no! I bet the average wage in Tallahassee is around $25. He is currently well over compensated!
Mr. Reid is correct, a raise for him does not raise the budgeted amount. It does, however, cut in half the number of hours he can devote to board issues to stay within the budget.
Find a NEW Lawyer. How about changing them out every two Years by hiring the Top Grads from FSU Law School?
Look out now!!!!
Our brave "Schmethics Board" has crawled out from their shelter under their beds and is doubling their "Esteemed Esquire's" pay rate.
Ya got a sweet sweet gig there working for our brave "Schmethics Board" "Esteemed Esquire" John Reid!!!!!
How nice of them to SPEND OUR MONEY at DOUBLE THE RATE!