Managing the contract

Commissioner Lynn Larson was not happy that the Town Commission and Town Attorney were voting to extend Town Manager Dave Bullock’s existing contract rather than writing a new agreement.

“It would be a much cleaner work product,” said Larson. “It seems we are flying in the face of the intent of the Town Charter. It may be technically legal. If we want to change the Town Charter than change the Town Charter,” added Larson.

Larson was referring to the adopted contract extension, which they did approve. The Town Charter calls for a super majority (at least five of seven commissioners) to terminate its relationship with the Town Manager. The Commission opted instead to take Bullock’s existing contract, which pays him $180,000 per year and extend it by two additional three-year terms. In that way the Commission can disengage from Bullock, avoid severance, or modify the contract at the end of each term with a simple majority (four of seven commissioners) vote.

Larson was in the minority and Commissioner Jack Duncan countered her words by pointing out that the Commission may very well not wish to remove Bullock but change the terms of the contract during any of the renewal periods.