Below is the email I sent the Durham County Commissioners regarding the current County Manager's excessive contract. If you feel remotely inclined, please send your own concerns to your elected officials and feel free to cut and paste my letter (or any part thereof). Thanks for caring and sharing, Melissa

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Dear Durham County Commissioners,

I am writing regarding the current county manager's contract, which is coming up for renewal. In addition to an annual salary of over $200,000, the county manager's contract provides the manager with excessive perks that do not serve in the best interest of Durham County, including:

1) 7 weeks of vacation a year, 

2) term life insurance,

3) a hefty monthly vehicle allowance,

4) a massive severance package, the required payment of which makes it nearly impossible for the board to hold the manager accountable for his performance or lack thereof, and

5) if not ended on or before June 30, 2021, the contract renews perpetually and requires the county to pay a year’s salary to end it (!). 

My friends in other municipalities agree that these perks are red flags, and they are far in excess of what other Durham public employees receive - employees whose work loads and salaries are determined by the county manager's decisions and oversight. 

Please note that I’m not necessarily saying don’t keep the current Durham County Manager. I’m saying that, at the very least, his current contract must be renegotiated so that it doesn’t tie the board’s hands financially to hold him accountable. This is reasonable, regardless of race or history with the county. If, after removing these knots, the current county manager chooses not to sign a new contract with the county, that decision is on him.

Please ensure transparency as you make your decisions regarding the future conditions of the county's leadership, and please ensure that next year’s manager is compensated at fair value in return for the community’s substantial investment in them.

As always, thank you for taking my concerns to heart as you make decisions on behalf of *all* Durham citizens.

Sincerely,

Melissa (Rooney)
Durham, NC 27705

To view my last post, click here: http://www.melissarooneywriting.com/blog/2021/03/big-loss-of-a-big-soul/.