Board of Commissioners set to vote on Hankerson's contract

The chairman of the Cobb County commissioners is proposing that a new contract for the county manager include a three-year extension, no pay increase and no automatic renewal.

David Hankerson, who’s been county manager since 1993, has a current contract—which includes $273,464 in salary and perks—that expires Jan. 31. It included an automatic renewal and an 8 percent pay increase.

Last fall some commissioners indicated a desire to renegotiate the contract. Commissioner Woody Thompson said last week that the review of Hankerson’s contract was simply a prudent move in a poor economy. No county employees have received a pay increase since 2008. Under the new contract, any increase in Hankerson's salary would be subject to a vote by the commissioners except for merit pay change

After reviewing Hankerson's contract in executive session last week, the county commissioners are set to vote on it at Tuesday night’s meeting.

But at least two commissioners say they aren't sure about the terms. Commissioner Bob Ott, who did not return calls this week, told the Marietta Daily Journal that he was opposed to the 3-year time frame in the contract.

"...having a three-year contract troubles me," he said. "I would prefer a one-year."

Thompson wouldn't say Monday how he planned to vote, but said last week that he might have some concerns with the terms of the proposed contract.

Commissioner Helen Goreham said Monday that she wasn't going to "divulge my position until tomorrow night. Commissioner Joann Birrell on Monday also wouldn’t say which way she was going to vote on the manager’s contract.

In other business Tuesday the commissioners will hear from the transportation department concerning the county street light program.

It was first reported in the AJC last fall that about $5.89 million in surplus money from the program had gone into the county's general fund for other uses.

In response, the county decided to designate a specific account for the street light funds, garnered from taxpayers, and that that money be used solely for the program. Having a separate fund was one of 23 recommendations made during an internal audit of the street light program.

The agenda for Tuesday's meeting says that the presentation by the transportation department, which oversees the program, will "present a proposed street light manual, detailing policies, procedures and guidelines" for the program.

Commissioner Goreham said Monday that the commissioners were probably going to have to change the original street light ordinance, but that wouldn't be an action taken Tuesday.