Surfside Beach Town Council held a special session today. Councilwoman Cindy Keating announced the meeting on Facebook.
In question is a $17,000 annual raise Fire Chief Rob Clemons gave himself during his brief time as interim Town Manager. Clemons also gave raises to other top level Surfside Beach staff.
Pay raises include: Police Chief Kenny Hoffman $11,321.70, Sheri Medina $9,999.72, Diana King $6,750.84, Nicole Kindzia $3,504.38, John S. Gambone $1,955.55, and John Adair* $4,634.38.
A post on Facebook states that none of these pay raises were turned in to Human Resources.
The ethicality of an interim town manager giving himself a pay raise depends on several factors. Generally speaking, it is considered unethical because it raises concerns about conflicts of interest and fairness. Here are a few points to consider:
1. Transparency: Any decision related to compensation should be transparent and accountable to the public. Giving oneself a pay raise without proper justification could be seen as self-serving and lacking transparency.
2. Fairness: A pay raise for an interim city manager should ideally be determined through an objective evaluation process that takes into account their performance and the prevailing market rates. Self-awarded pay raises can create an unfair advantage and compromise the principle of equal treatment for all employees.
3. Conflict of interest: Self-dealing can raise serious questions about conflicts of interest. City managers are expected to act in the best interest of the community they serve, and awarding oneself a pay raise can call into question whether they are prioritizing personal gain over the public’s interest.
4. Long-term impact: Interim city managers are temporary appointments, and decisions made during their tenure can have long-term consequences. Granting oneself a pay raise can set a precedent for future city managers and potentially lead to budgetary strains or dissatisfaction among other employees.
Given these points, it is generally advisable for an interim city manager to involve other relevant parties, such as the city council or a compensation committee, in decisions related to their own pay raise. This will help ensure a fair and transparent process that upholds ethical standards.
List of Surfside Beach raises in yellow
Surfside Beach Fire Chief Rob Clemons
Sources report that Clemons also spent tens of thousands of dollars of work on the Fire Station and Police Station.
These expenditures were not put out for bids as required by City Council statute.
Gerald Vincent has recently been hired by Surfside Beach as the new Town Manager. Questions have been posed as to why Clemons would not wait for his arrival, before issuing such extravagant pay raises.
Sheri L. Medina is the Town Clerk ( the legislative administrator), and as such is the municipal election officer, archives officer and is responsible for ordinance codification. The Clerk also attends and records minutes for all council and statutory committee meetings; drafts ordinances, resolutions and proclamations. The Clerk also provides legislative assistance to the Town Council and the Town Administrator.
Kenneth Hoffman is the Surfside Beach Police Chief. Hoffman has been a controversial figure in the town for more than a decade. Court records obtained by MyrtleBeachSC News include statements by a former Surfside Beach resident that Hoffman tipped off a business selling illegal drugs that a raid was forth coming.
Diana King is the Surfside Beach Finance Director. None of these raises could have happened without her knowledge. Questions remain if King ever reached out to any member of Surfside Beach Town Council.
John Adair is the Director of Public Works. He is married to Sabrina Morris Adair Surfside Beach Planning and Zoning. Morris and Surfside Beach have experienced almost a decade of ongoing drama reported by MyrtleBeachSC News.
*Unofficial reports state that former Town Manager William P. Shanahan gave John Adair his pay raise. Shanahan left office early this year.
Nicol Kindzia is the Business License Official for Surfside Beach.
Nicole Kindzia is the business license official for the Town of Surfside Beach, S.C.
IRONICALLY, Surfside Beach Town Council actually allowed this group to have a huge say in the vetting and hiring of current Surfside Beach Town Manager Gerald Vincent.