MILFORD, Del. -- On Monday, the Milford City Council voted 4-3 to approve a $195,000 salary for a new city manager candidate.
City officials say they began their search for a new hire after former City Manager Mark Whitfield announced his retirement last October. According to Mayor Todd Culotta, he and other officials interviewed several qualified candidates.
Officials tell WBOC the candidate of choice is from out of state and has 30 years of experience.
"He is very qualified," says Councilmember Medula Kalesis, who voted 'no'. "But, looking at the statistics of our region and looking at the numbers that even our current city manager recommended, how are we supposed to justify paying 195 for our city manager?"
City officials initially offered $180,000, but the candidate requested $195,000. The council surveyed city manager salaries in Smyrna, Newark, and Middletown to help develop that offer, but Mayor Culotta calls those comparisons "unfair".
"I believe the 180 was more than fair, which is quite high, honestly," says Culotta. "The comparisons that were presented to us were for cities that were either more than twice our size, or one comparison was for someone acting as both the city manager and the police chief."
Kalesis and Culotta say they believe the choice was not in the best interest of taxpayers.
However, Councilmember Nadia Zychal says her vote for the salary was in the city's best interest. She tells WBOC she feels the candidate's experience, the city's growth, and the complexity of the job all justify the approved salary.
Officials say the next step is to present the new salary offer to the candidate.