As a follow up to a story we published on July 3rd, Surfside Beach Town Council put out an official statement this week.
At issue was a 23% raise ($17,000 annual raise) that 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.
What we wrote at the time:
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.
MyrtleBeachSC News never wrote nor implied laws were broken.
SURFSIDE BEACH TOWN COUNCIL RESPONSE
… equally as important is ensuring our Town employees are not unjustly accused of impropriety, and if/when allegations emerge that the public may view as having originated from Council, that Council promptly disassociate from any such false allegation.
Recent media coverage and pervasive social media postings pertaining to former interim administrator Clemons, Police Chief Hofmann and other staff members require, in the view of the Council, an affirmative statement from Council clarifying and correcting the inaccuracies contained on those forums. It should be made clear that no allegation(s) exist relating to Chief Clemons, Chief Hofmann or staff members which would imply misappropriation, fraud, or any other improper financial conduct in their capacity as town officials.
The Town Administrator will complete an investigation into recent events and present corrective measures and other recommendations to Town Council upon conclusion.
COMING FALL ELECTIONS
Elections will be held the first Tuesday in November for the Town Mayor’s position and several town council seats.
Current Mayor Bob Hellyer has made it clear he will not run for re-election.
At MyrtleBeachSC News, we stand behind the article we ran on July 3rd. The matter was clearly important enough for the town to hold a special session, which was posted on Social Media by Town Councilwoman Cindy Keating.
STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF TOWN COUNCIL
The Town of Surfside Beach, including the Mayor and members of Town Council, rely greatly upon the efforts and service of our various town employees. These public servants are what enables us to provide our community with the quality of life that the Citizens of this Town have come to expect. As such, the staff, the Mayor and members of Town Council take very seriously any allegations of misconduct or impropriety and are committed to acting promptly upon receiving any such allegations. However, equally as important is ensuring our Town employees are not unjustly accused of impropriety, and if/when allegations emerge that the public may view as having originated from Council, that Council promptly disassociate from any such false allegation.
Recent media coverage and pervasive social media postings pertaining to former interim administrator Clemons, Police Chief Hofmann and other staff members require, in the view of the Council, an affirmative statement from Council clarifying and correcting the inaccuracies contained on those forums. It should be made clear that no allegation(s) exist relating to Chief Clemons, Chief Hofmann or staff members which would imply misappropriation, fraud, or any other improper financial conduct in their capacity as town officials. Any statements reflecting the personal opinions of media representatives, social media bloggers, social media posters, or Town employees during the course of their private conversations, do not necessarily reflect the view of the Mayor or the Town Council and should not be construed as bearing the imprimatur of the Town. The Town Administrator will complete an investigation into recent events and present corrective measures and other recommendations to Town Council upon conclusion.