Terri Parker Interviews Administrator Faye Johnson
January 21, 2023
Jan. 13, 2020, #5. “Resolution No. 10-20 establishing the salary and other compensation for the City Administrator and amending the pay grade information for the City Administrator job classification. Based on Ms. Johnson’s extensive qualifications and experience, the Mayor is recommending to the Commission a starting salary of $249,000 for consideration, which is within the General Management Salary Rate Schedule for the City Administrator Pay Grade, GM20 ($174,303-$261,454)
Upon successful completion of a six (6) month probationary period, Ms. Johnson’s salary will increase by 5% to $261,450, also within the current salary rate schedule. Ms. Johnson’s current salary as Interim City Administrator is $220,000.”
Jan.12, 2023 Investigative Reporter Terri Parker (WPBF 25)
Ms. Parkers story can be read in its entirety below. My comments in Italic and excerpts from Ms. Parker’s story.
“Loophole allows city administrator to get away with same issue West Palm Beach mayor suing challenger over.”
“West Palm Beach Mayor Keith James is suing to get his sole challenger, Rodney Mayo, kicked off the ballot for the upcoming March election. James claims Mayo doesn’t live in the city, as required by the city charter.
“Mr. Mayo is not qualified at the end of the day,” said James following a court hearing Tuesday, when asked why he had filed suit.”
But some outraged citizens call that ironic because James’ top city administrator, Faye Johnson, has not lived in the city for the past three years, which the charter also requires.
The issue has come up several times over the past few years but has taken on a new spin with James’ lawsuit.”
““She’s supposed to live within the city bounds of West Palm Beach. Ms. Johnson does not. Why, Keith, do you allow this?” asked resident Sandy Matkivich at a city commission meeting.”
“Right now, I live in my primary residence, which is in unincorporated Palm Beach County,” Johnson told WPBF 25 News Investigative Reporter Terri Parker. “
“To comply with the residency requirement, Johnson says she kept her house and rented an apartment within city limits for about a year. That lease is up, and she says she’s looking for another one.”
I want to see rent receipts. The fact is Johnson bought an apt. in Nov.-2021 at 2000 Presidential Way Apt.305 WPB Fl. For $136,000. Five months later she sold it for $155,000. A profit of $19,000 in 5 months. See PBC Property Appraiser website below.
PAPA-Property Detail (pbcgov.org)
“Johnson says there’s a loophole of sorts in the charter, which allows her to skirt that requirement.”
“She said as long as the city attorney says this setup is legally permissible, she’s going to take advantage of it. take advantage, loophole seriously?
“It’s not illegal. It’s not unethical. It’s not immoral,” said Johnson. In my opinion it’s all three.
Ms. Parker’s story has links. One will show the City Charter Requirements and the other the City Attorney’s response.
https://www.wpbf.com/article/florida-west-palm-beach-city-administrator-mayor-lawsuit/42478329
So, let’s examine her pay raises:
City Administrator: General Management Salary Rate Schedule for the City Administrator Pay Grade, GM20 ($174,303-$261,454).
Assistant City Administrator I don’t know what Johnson’s starting salary was before she was promoted to:
Interim City Administrator, her salary was $220,000.
“The Mayor is recommending to the Commission a starting salary of $249,000.”
The City Commissioners approved the pay raise. $249,000 – $220,000 = $29,000 raise. After 6-month probation a 5% raise. = $12,450 = $261,450 and Johnson was $4.00 short of the top of her pay grade of GM20 $174,303-$261,454
Johnson refused the $12,450 raise due to the pandemic until the Federal Government sent the city of WPB $25,3 Million. She accepted the 5% raise retroactive. That put her at the top of her pay grade. Not so fast!
Johnson’s pay grade has gone from GM20 to GM10 meaning “salary is set by the commission upon the recommendation of the mayor.” sky’s the limit and to make a point her salary now stands at $291,240.00; Johnson has received $71,240.00 in pay raises.
Sep 7, 2022
City Administrator Faye Johnson said the proposed pay increase would be “unprecedented in this city.” A 5% raise equates to an additional $2,000 per year for an employee making $40,000.
What I find unprecedented is $71,240 raise in 3 years. James recommends the raise, and the City Commissioners approve it. Who’s the suckers? The taxpayers
Johnson GM10 salary set by mayor
The end