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Council backs Roush with salary increase
Thelma Grimes
San Pedro Valley News-Sun
Members of the Benson City Council understand the public's concern about City Manager Martin Roush's six-figure salary but are confident he deserves it.
Roush is the highest paid manager in city history. The council recently gave Roush a favorable evaluation, and added 3.5 percent to his annual salary, now $117,000.
The highest increase he could have received is 5 percent, but Councilwoman Lori McGoffin said he doesn't deserve that much and does have some areas where improvement is needed. During the Sept. 24 council meeting, McGoffin spoke up first, motioning to approve the 3.5 percent increase, which was approved unanimously.
"I felt some of the council may have wanted to give him even more money, so I wanted to stop that from happening," she said. "I do think he deserved an increase. He has got a lot of the paperwork and administrative goals we assigned him done, but he definitely needs to work on his people skills."
Councilman Al Sacco brought up a possibility of there being some morale issues, stating he feels Roush has done an excellent job, and he couldn't comment on the morale of the city's 86 employees. When asked to explain what he meant, Sacco refused.
When asked if there are morale issues, McGoffin said there is a problem and it needs to be addressed.
"There are some employees who don't like change, but I think Martin needs to work with them. I think the problem between Martin and (former City Attorney Ann Roberts) caused some of the problems. Ann wouldn't give and Martin wouldn't give an inch and they just hit a stalemate. We had no other choice except to do what we did."
While the council in August never said publicly that there were problems between the city manager and city attorney, Roberts ended up resigning as city attorney and took the job as prosecutor.
Mayor Mark Fenn said he isn't aware of any major morale issues, but said it was no secret that there were problems between Roberts and Roush.
"There was a personality clash, but the decision to make Ann the prosecutor was not to apease that," Fenn said. "It was in the best interest of the city. I don't know about the morale at city hall. I have never asked an employee directly and I'm not going to say its non-existent."
Fenn said Roush himself admits he is wound too tight.
"What I find refreshing is he admits it and is willing to work on it. I think he as an engineer approaches a lot from an analytical point of view. He is trying to take care of business at the city, and can come across a little tough at times" Fenn said.
While some employees may be having problems, Fenn said he has heard plenty of compliments with staff saying the structure is more organized, and they know how they can grow in their positions and move forward.
Vice Mayor Toney King agreed with McGoffin, stating Roush may have accomplished every business and administrative goal over the last year, but he has to learn how to relax.
"Being a new city manager, Martin tends to drive the employees, I think, a little too hard," he said. "I would say there is definitely a morale issue that I feel we have to look at. I think some of it's on Martin and some of it's the employees."
Councilman John Lodzinski, who said he had no problem increasing Roush's salary, said if the morale issues are as bad as some council members feel, they would be losing more employees.
"I think Martin has done a lot of work, has brought a lot of knowledge and experience and it getting work done," he said. "When it comes to the employees, there are two sides to every story. He could have done a better job here and there, but he has had a difficult job. You would know there is a major problem if we had a lot of people resigning, but that hasn't happened."
Since Roush took over last year, there have been several personnel changes. Not long after he took over, former Planning and Zoning Director Linda Weiland resigned, with Roush stating she did not meet the goals of the position. Roush tried to fill the position with one of his former co-workers from Sahuarita, but could not offer him a high enough salary.
Longtime city employee Larry Napier was reassigned this year, after serving as public works director for several years. Napier was replaced by Brad Hamilton, who worked with Roush in Sahuarita.
Following Roberts' resignation, the city's interim attorney is also one of Roush's acquaintances from Sahuarita.
In the parks department, Roush demoted Tom Guadagnoli, who had been serving as the city's parks director.
City staff members did not want to go on the record about Roush, but several said he is a tough manager and often takes a divide and conquer approach that is similar to the military. And he doesn't like for any city employee to disagree with him.
Councilwomen Dianne Tipton and Kathy Suagee said they had no idea about any morale problems under Roush's direction.
"I would have given him the full 5 percent increase if we could have," Suagee said. "He's done a great job getting this city on the right track. I think employee attitudes have improved. I imagine there are some employees who don't want change, but the majority appreciates a strong leader like Martin."
Tipton said there is no question the city is getting what they are paying for.
"I like that things are getting done and not just standing still," she said. "I don't think there are any morale problems. I have not heard one complaint from any employee. I have talked to people who have dealt with Martin, and I have only heard good reports."
While not all the council is united on Roush's shortfalls they are together on what the one-year city manager has done well.
"Martin has done more than a few things for the city," said Councilman Sacco. "He's developed a lot of standard operating procedures. He helped me create a procurement policy and has done a great job."
The entire council also agreed that Roush did a great job reformatting the city budget, making it easier to read for both the council and the public and in establishing the new capital improvement plan.
Vice Mayor King said the city was in rough shape following the exit of former city manager Boyd Kraemer, and Roush has been a strong enough leader to take over, getting the city back on track.
San Pedro Valley News-Sun
Members of the Benson City Council understand the public's concern about City Manager Martin Roush's six-figure salary but are confident he deserves it.
Roush is the highest paid manager in city history. The council recently gave Roush a favorable evaluation, and added 3.5 percent to his annual salary, now $117,000.
The highest increase he could have received is 5 percent, but Councilwoman Lori McGoffin said he doesn't deserve that much and does have some areas where improvement is needed. During the Sept. 24 council meeting, McGoffin spoke up first, motioning to approve the 3.5 percent increase, which was approved unanimously.
"I felt some of the council may have wanted to give him even more money, so I wanted to stop that from happening," she said. "I do think he deserved an increase. He has got a lot of the paperwork and administrative goals we assigned him done, but he definitely needs to work on his people skills."
Councilman Al Sacco brought up a possibility of there being some morale issues, stating he feels Roush has done an excellent job, and he couldn't comment on the morale of the city's 86 employees. When asked to explain what he meant, Sacco refused.
When asked if there are morale issues, McGoffin said there is a problem and it needs to be addressed.
"There are some employees who don't like change, but I think Martin needs to work with them. I think the problem between Martin and (former City Attorney Ann Roberts) caused some of the problems. Ann wouldn't give and Martin wouldn't give an inch and they just hit a stalemate. We had no other choice except to do what we did."
While the council in August never said publicly that there were problems between the city manager and city attorney, Roberts ended up resigning as city attorney and took the job as prosecutor.
Mayor Mark Fenn said he isn't aware of any major morale issues, but said it was no secret that there were problems between Roberts and Roush.
"There was a personality clash, but the decision to make Ann the prosecutor was not to apease that," Fenn said. "It was in the best interest of the city. I don't know about the morale at city hall. I have never asked an employee directly and I'm not going to say its non-existent."
Fenn said Roush himself admits he is wound too tight.
"What I find refreshing is he admits it and is willing to work on it. I think he as an engineer approaches a lot from an analytical point of view. He is trying to take care of business at the city, and can come across a little tough at times" Fenn said.
While some employees may be having problems, Fenn said he has heard plenty of compliments with staff saying the structure is more organized, and they know how they can grow in their positions and move forward.
Vice Mayor Toney King agreed with McGoffin, stating Roush may have accomplished every business and administrative goal over the last year, but he has to learn how to relax.
"Being a new city manager, Martin tends to drive the employees, I think, a little too hard," he said. "I would say there is definitely a morale issue that I feel we have to look at. I think some of it's on Martin and some of it's the employees."
Councilman John Lodzinski, who said he had no problem increasing Roush's salary, said if the morale issues are as bad as some council members feel, they would be losing more employees.
"I think Martin has done a lot of work, has brought a lot of knowledge and experience and it getting work done," he said. "When it comes to the employees, there are two sides to every story. He could have done a better job here and there, but he has had a difficult job. You would know there is a major problem if we had a lot of people resigning, but that hasn't happened."
Since Roush took over last year, there have been several personnel changes. Not long after he took over, former Planning and Zoning Director Linda Weiland resigned, with Roush stating she did not meet the goals of the position. Roush tried to fill the position with one of his former co-workers from Sahuarita, but could not offer him a high enough salary.
Longtime city employee Larry Napier was reassigned this year, after serving as public works director for several years. Napier was replaced by Brad Hamilton, who worked with Roush in Sahuarita.
Following Roberts' resignation, the city's interim attorney is also one of Roush's acquaintances from Sahuarita.
In the parks department, Roush demoted Tom Guadagnoli, who had been serving as the city's parks director.
City staff members did not want to go on the record about Roush, but several said he is a tough manager and often takes a divide and conquer approach that is similar to the military. And he doesn't like for any city employee to disagree with him.
Councilwomen Dianne Tipton and Kathy Suagee said they had no idea about any morale problems under Roush's direction.
"I would have given him the full 5 percent increase if we could have," Suagee said. "He's done a great job getting this city on the right track. I think employee attitudes have improved. I imagine there are some employees who don't want change, but the majority appreciates a strong leader like Martin."
Tipton said there is no question the city is getting what they are paying for.
"I like that things are getting done and not just standing still," she said. "I don't think there are any morale problems. I have not heard one complaint from any employee. I have talked to people who have dealt with Martin, and I have only heard good reports."
While not all the council is united on Roush's shortfalls they are together on what the one-year city manager has done well.
"Martin has done more than a few things for the city," said Councilman Sacco. "He's developed a lot of standard operating procedures. He helped me create a procurement policy and has done a great job."
The entire council also agreed that Roush did a great job reformatting the city budget, making it easier to read for both the council and the public and in establishing the new capital improvement plan.
Vice Mayor King said the city was in rough shape following the exit of former city manager Boyd Kraemer, and Roush has been a strong enough leader to take over, getting the city back on track.
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