WPB Assistant to the City Administrator

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“Mayor James Announces New WPB Assistant to the City Administrator Dr. Philip C. Harris

Post Date: 05/27/2021 3:30 PM

WEST PALM BEACH, FLA (May 27, 2021) – West Palm Beach Mayor Keith A. James is pleased to announce the selection of Dr. Philip C. Harris for the position of Assistant to the City Administrator effective Monday, May 24, 2021. In this role, Dr. Harris will oversee the City’s Community and Business Services which include the Departments of Housing and Community Development, Parks and Recreation, Public Works, Library, Office of Economic Opportunity, and ArtLife WPB.

Dr. Harris brings to the City 18 years of diversified government experience and a background in civic engagement, strategic planning, human services, public policy, emergency management, grant management, budget management, community and business development, and volunteer management.

He has held positions with the City of Clearwater, City of St. Petersburg, United Way Suncoast, Hillsborough County, Broward County, P.M.E. Development Consulting, LLC in Tamarac, FL, and Broward County Public Schools.”

“Congratulations to new Assistant to the City Administrator Dr. Philip C. Harris,” said West Palm Beach Mayor Keith A. James. “With a multifaceted background in operations and administrative experience, Dr. Harris brings a wealth of experience to this position. I am confident he will do great things for our City and serve our residents well. I welcome him to the City of West Palm Beach leadership team!”

“I am grateful to the Mayor and the City Administrator for the opportunity to join the dynamic City of West Palm Beach team,” said Dr. Harris. “I have tremendous respect for this innovative city, its residents, businesses, nonprofits, and city staff. I look forward to helping address the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.”

“Dr. Harris holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication degree from the University of South Florida and a Master and Doctor of Business Administration degree from Argosy University.”

Dr. Harris is the South Florida Chapter President of the National Forum for Black Public Administrators and a member of the Florida City and County Management Association (FCCMA) and the International City/County Management Association. He was also recently recognized as 2020 ICMA International Honorary Member of the Year and 2021 FCCMA Who’s Who Under 40 Award Honoree.”

The City’s pay scale salary for level GM17.

“Min. $121,330.00   Mid. $151,663.00    Max. $181,995.00”

“Mayor’s Office Harris, Philip Christopher 101117. Assistant to the City Administrator. Admin, Clerical&Fiscal GM17 $152,000.” (Mid. Level)

City Administrator Faye Johnson’s salary is $261,450.00, and as the City Charter states she must live in the City of WPB with no time frame for moving. This is a loop hole in the Charter that James and Johnson use to their benefit. James knows the rules, he just doesn’t follow them.

That’s a combined total of $413,450.00. for 2 employees. (The WPB Police Dept. has a new contract with the City after 9 months of back and forth negotiations, unfortunately the City refused to make the contract retroactive due to money shortage ???)

The City’s Education Requirements can be read below.

ASSISTANT TO THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR
FLSA: EX Page 2 of 2
B/U: NA-RgUncl Last revision: January 2020
CLASS DESCRIPTION
Class Code: 101117
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT
Work involves sedentary to light work in an office setting. There is occasional need to stand, stoop, walk, sit, lift objects (up to 25 pounds) and perform similar other actions during the course of the workday. The City of West Palm Beach promotes and maintains a drug/alcohol free work environment through the use of mandatory per-employment and random drug testing for certain employees.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Master’s degree with a major in Business Administration, Public Administration, or related field is required for this position, or any equivalent combination of training and experience. Education will be verified using the “Education Requirements” listed below. Must have seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in upper management including budgetary experience.
A current and valid Florida driver’s license is required. For application purposes, a valid driver’s license from any state (equivalent to a State of Florida Class E) may be utilized; with the ability to obtain the State
of Florida driver’s license within thirty (30) days from date of employment.

Education Requirements
• To be considered valid (or verified) for position qualification purposes, and consistent with City Hiring Policy 4-5, a High School, GED or equivalent diploma, and all higher education degrees or certifications must have been issued by:
a) a public education institution in the State of Florida or any State or Territory of the United States; or
b) an institution accredited by an accrediting organization that is recognized by the Florida Department of Education or the U.S. Department of Education; or
c) an institution that is accredited by an organization that is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
• International degrees will be evaluated to determine if they satisfy qualification requirements.

“On February 27, 2019, the US Department of Education stated that they were cutting off federal funding to Argosy University. According to Inside Higher Education, “The Education Department said that the roughly 8,800 students enrolled at Argosy campuses could seek to transfer their credits elsewhere or apply for loan cancellation in the event their campus shuts down.”
All Argosy campuses were officially closed on March 8, 2019.
Be sure to read the entire Wikipedia entry below for what became a bogus university.
The overall graduation rate? Answer: 6 percent.
Misspend money, lack of accreditation, multiple lawsuits and on and on.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argosy_University

I could not find where the City advertised for Dr. Harris position. Is this a case of “It’s not what you know, but who you know?”

The end.