CLICK THE ABOVE IMAGE TO DOWNLOAD AN ACROBAT FILE OF THESE TWO NEW YORK TIMES ADS.
An historical comparison of search/hiring processes, salaries, benefits, severance pay, contracts, and litigation.
UPDATE: Since this list was compiled in 2008, additional appointed Village Managers have included: Zachary Kelson, John Barbarite (again), John LeGreci, Gordon Jenkins, Allan A. Thompson, Raymond Nargizian (again), Walter Fedun, and David Sager. The first manager, Thomas Belmont, served just short of 11 years. His successor, Donald C. Block, served for 7 years, followed by Louis Bernstein who held the post for a similar duration.§ 45-5. Administrative and executive powers. [Added 6-21-1999 by L.L. No. 5-1999]
The administrative and executive powers of the Village, including the power of appointment of officers and employees, except the Village Clerk, Village Attorney and Village Treasurer, are vested in an official to be known as the "Village Manager" who shall be appointed by the Board of Trustees and hold office during the pleasure of such Board; he shall receive compensation as shall be fixed by the Board of Trustees.
John L. Barbarite, Village Manager 4/7/2008 to ?
11/02/2008 Public debate forces Monticello Village Board to move meetings Times Herald Record by Adam Bosch
10/24/2008 Inadequate Room Size Of Village Of Monticello Board Of Trustees Is An Unsafe And Dangerous Condition, Threatens Public Safety opinion by Tom Rue
10/24/2008 Barbarite's fate still up in air in Village Sullivan County Democrat by Dan Hust
10/21/2008 Village Manager survives initial move for ouster Times Herald Record by Adam Bosch
10/15/2008 Defendants' Verified Answer (for Flora) Kowalczyk et al. v. Barbarite et al. PACER
10/09/2008 Defendants' Verified Answer (for Barbarite, Jenkins, Village of Monticello) and Plaintiffs' EBT Notice Kowalczyk et al. v. Barbarite et al. PACER
10/06/2008 Comparing Terms Of Employment, and Performances, Of Past And Present Monticello Village Managers : What's The Emergency? opinion by Tom Rue
10/04/2008 Is Monticello's time extension in Federal lawsuit a factor in Barbarite's urgent desire for a multi-year contract? opinion by Tom Rue
09/26/2008 Monticello loses when trustees tangle Times Herald-Record editorial
09/25/2008 Monticello meeting for contract vote is cut short Times Herald-Record by Adam Bosch
09/24/2008 Update: Monticello mayor didn't have votes to OK manager pact Times Herald-Record by Adam Bosch
09/24/2008 Monticello special meeting lasts seconds; no action taken Times Herald-Record by Adam Bosch
09/24/2008 To dodge foes, Monticello mayor calls special meeting Times Herald-Record by Adam Bosch
09/23/2008 Do You Remember "The People's Voice" Newsletter? Hypocrisy In Politics Is Nothing New, But Barbarite Takes It To New Depths opinion by Tom Rue
09/22/2008 Proposed contract (not approved by the Board of Trustees)
Proposed terms of contract - Salary: $72,450.00 per year, severance pay if fired: One full year's salary.
09/16/2008 Stipulation Extending Defendants' Time To Answer (extending deadline to file Answer to 10/09/2008) Kowalczyk et al. v. Barbarite et al. PACER
08/19/2008 John Barbarite main focus of lawsuit Sullivan County Democrat by Dan Hust
08/05/2008 Verified Complaint with Jury Demand Joseph Kowalczyk & Alil Pericic v. John Barbarite, Sue Flora, Gordon Jenkins and The Village of Monticello PACER
05/18/2008 Local Law No. 3 of 2008 rescinding Sections 45-16, 45-17, 45-18, and 45-19 of the Village Code eliminating position of Deputy Village Manager
04/25/2008 Battle rages over building code - Building owner disputes citations; village hires felon for prosecutions Times Herald Record by Adam Bosch
04/25/2008 On Monticello board, strife continues Sullivan County Democrat by Dan Hust
04/21/2008 On the importance of public trust and the consequences of losing it public comment by Tom Rue to Village Board
04/11/2008 Barbarite named Monticello manager Sullivan County Democrat by Dan Hust
04/07/2008 Resolution by Board of Trustees appointing John Barbarite as Village Manager (3 to 2 vote)
04/07/2008 Corruption as usual in Monticello statement by elected Trustee Carmen Rue to Village Board
04/07/2008 On the selection process for Monticello's next Village Manager statement by Tom Rue to Village Board
04/07/2008 Motion by Carmen Rue to "listen to public comment before the item concerning the 'appointment' of John Barbarite as Village Manager"
03/14/2008 Focus on Barbarite Sullivan County Democrat by Dan Hust
03/12/2008 Fired village official presents results of lie detector test to back his claim Times Herald-Record by Nathan Mayberg
03/04/2008 Village manager, ex-deputy investigated Times Herald-Record by Adam Bosch
02/27/2008 Monticello fires Barbarite over alleged racial slur Times Herald-Record by Adam Bosch
02/23/2007 Monticello creates new deputy manager position Times Herald Record by Simon Shifrin and Nathan Mayberg
02/29/2008 Barbarite fired, claims he was railroaded The Sullivan County Democrat By Dan Hust
01/15/2008 Village officials vote to keep Barbarite Times Herald-Record by Adam Bosch
01/14/2008 Village official still on chopping block Times Herald-Record
01/12/2008 Monticello official still awaiting fate Times Herald-Record by Adam Bosch
02/23/2007 Monticello creates new deputy manager position Times Herald Record by Simon Shifrin and Nathan Mayberg
Terms - No contract, at the pleasure of the Board of Trustees, salary: $41,000.00 per year, severance pay if fired: None.
02/20/2007 Local Law No. 4 of 2007 establishing the position of Deputy Village Manager
Raymond Nargizian, Village Manager 12/18/2006 to 3/31/2008.
03/31/2008 Notice of resignation of Raymond Nargizian as Village Manager
03/25/2008 Monticello village manager resigns, citing personal issues Times Herald Record
12/18/2006 Resolution by Board of Trustees appointing Raymond Nargizian as Village Manager (unanimous vote)
Terms - No contract, at the pleasure of the Board of Trustees, salary: started at $60,000.00, ended at $72,000.00.
Mayor James Barnicle, Acting Village Manager 08/11/2006 to 12/18/2006.
08/09/2007 Judge dismisses lawsuit against Monticello mayor Times Herald-Record
08/07/2007 Gordon Jenkins, et al. vs. James Barnicle , SUED WITH A CLAIM THAT BARNICLE WAS NOT AUTHORIZED TO BE PAID FOR WORK AS ACTING VILLAGE MANAGER - CASE DISMISSED.
10/17/2006 Barnicle raises hackles The Sullivan County Democrat by Nathan Mayberg. "Jenkins said he told Barnicle at the executive session that $2,000 a month was too much. “I said I would do it for free.”
Terms - Succession by law (Village Code §45-9); salary: $2,000.00 per month in addition to Mayor's stipend.
Richard M. Sush, Village Manager 01/02/2001 to 08/11/2006.
07/11/2006 Monticello manager stepping down Times Herald-Record by Victor Whitman
08/01/2004 Contract.
Terms - Salary: $60,000.00 per year, severance pay if fired: Six months salary.
10/16/2000 Resolution by Board of Trustees appointing Richard Sush as Village Manager (unanimous vote)
Mayor Gary P. Sommers, Acting Village Manager 6/2/1998 to 10/16/2000.
09/17/1999 Memorandum of Law by Village Attorney Michael Davidoff as letter to the editor letter in Sullivan County Democrat headlined, "Mayor can serve as manager"
08/22/1999 Mayor's second job raises questions Sullivan County Democrat by John Emerson
Terms - Succession by law (Village Code §45-9); $1,000.00 per month in addition to Mayor's stipend.
Joseph M. Dwyer, Village Manager 01/28/1999 to 02/19/1999.
02/09/1999 Dwyer dumps job week after starting Sullivan County Democrat by John Emerson "The Village of Monticello is once again hanging out a help wanted sign for the village manager's slot less than a week after agreeing on a contract with the new village manager." Reasons were not publicly stated, but might have been influenced by a death in his family that was noted in the Democrat's Jan. 22nd report of Mr. Dwyer's selection. (See RELATED LINK and RELATED LINK.)
01/22/1999 Monticello hires new manager Sullivan County Democrat by John Emerson
Terms - No contract, at the pleasure of the Board of Trustees, salary: $49,000. Contract was apparently considered, but evidently never finalized.
Sheryl Shiber, Village Manager 8/7/1997 to 6/2/1998.
06/05/1998 Monticello manager fired Sullivan County Democrat by John Emerson
06/03/1998 Board fires Monticello manager - 'No one could work with her' Times Herald-Record by Lee Bosco (See RELATED LINK.)
08/07/1997 Cheryl Shiber is Monticello's new village manager The River Reporter by Tom Rue
08/01/1997 Contract, "This agreement has been authorized by a Resolution by the Village Board on 4th day of August, 1997 and is effective as of August 1, 1997."
Terms - Contract (above), Salary: $47,500.00, severance pay if fired: None.
"Severance" paid upon temination: 9 vacation days + 11 sick days, + 4 personal days = 24 days - 1 day used | 23 days x $182.69 = $4,201.87. Regular pay: $1,461.52.
"The following are goals for the Village Manager as set forth by the Board: (a) Recodification; (b) Develop and foster a plan for economic development; (c) Code enforcement; (d) Grant writing for the development of the village; (e) the study of consolidation of services with the town of Thompson; (f) Job descriptions and agreements with the various department heads; (g) Closing the landfill; (h) Development of an Architectural Board with the Planning Board."
CLICK THE ABOVE IMAGE TO DOWNLOAD AN ACROBAT FILE OF THESE TWO NEW YORK TIMES ADS.
George Panchyshyn, Interim Village Manager 07/15/1996 to 06/0/1998.
01/30/1997 Monticello board to seek new Village Manager The River Reporter by Tom Rue
07/26/1996 Appointment questioned - Combination Panchyshyn job under fire Times Herald Record by Alan Wechsler "...resident John Barbarite stood up and asked why the village needed a manager at all..."
07/18/1996 Panchysyn heads up Village government The River Reporter by Tom Rue
07/17/1996 Monticello Manager selected Times Herald-Record by David Figura and Maureen Petkus "...a $2,400 increase from what he's currently being paid as head of the village's public works department."
Terms - Contracted as Commissioner of Public Works; no contract as Acting Village Manager, at the pleasure of the Board of Trustees, salary: $57,100.00 per year.
David P. Berner,Village Manager 10/02/1995 to 07/19/1996.
10/5/1995 Monticello hires David P. Berner as manager The River Reporter by Tom Rue
Terms - No contract, served at the pleasure of the Board of Trustees, salary: $47,000.00 per year.
Edith Schop (Clerk), Acting Village Manager ($200 per week, total $1,840) assisted by Mayor Robert Friedland (no salary beyond Mayor's stipend), 05/04/1995 to 10/02/1995.
Terms - No contract, at the pleasure of the Board of Trustees, $1,000.00 per month in addition to Village Clerk's salary.
"WHEREAS, Edith Schop is serving as Acting Village Manager until a permanent appointment is made by the Board of Trustees; and NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Monticello does hereby approve giving the Acting Village Manager $200.00 a week salary for the period of the interim appointment." (motion by Trustee Levinson, seconded by Trustee Levinson, adopted by a vote of 3 to 2 by the Board of Trustees, Trustees Cahalan and Vandermark dissenting, 8/1/1994).
William F. Cummings, Village Manager 09/19/1994 to 05/04/1995.
03/25/1996 John Barbarite & Janet Lynn v. Village of Monticello, et al. SUED TO PREVENT FORMER VILLAGE MANAGER CUMMINGS FROM RECEIVING SEVERANCE PAY - CASE DISMISSED .
05/03/1995 Is No One Qualified To Be Village Manager? Good Morning Vietnam newsletter "Now comes Mr. Barbarite who has again crawled from under the woodwork to file a lawsuit..."
05/11/1994 Cummings resigns The River Reporter by Tom Rue
10/05/1994 Village picks new money man - Ex-Wallkill Supervisor hired Times Herald-Record by Tristam Kirten
10/__/1994 Memorandum of Understanding (not approved)
Terms - No contract, at the pleasure of the Board of Trustees, salary: $47,000.000. Proposed (draft) agreement asked for severance pay if fired: Two months salary.
Edith Schop (Clerk), Acting Village Manager assisted by Mayor Robert Friedland (40 hours/week, no salary in addition to Mayor's stipend), 07/14/1994 to 10/14/1994.
07/10/1995 John Barbarite, et al. v. Village of Monticello, et al. SUED TO HOLD OFFICIALS PERSONALLY LIABLE FOR PAYMENT OF A CONSULTANT TO INVESTIGATE THE MAYOR - CASE DISMISSED .
07/21/1994 Clerk gets extra work but no extra pay Times Herald-Record by Barbara Gref
07/15/1994 Village Clerk to serve as Acting Village Manager Times Herald-Record by Tom Kane
Terms - No contract, "to serve at the pleasure of the Board, efective immediately at no additional compensation".
"WHEREAS, the Village of Monticello does not presently have a Village Manager; and WHEREAS, there are documents to sign and decision [sic] to be made by a Village Manager due to the Manager form of government. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Monticello does hereby appoint Edith Schop as the Acting Village Manager in addition to continuing as Village Clerk, to serve at the pleasure of the Board, effective immediately at no additional compensation." (motion by Trustee Cahalan, seconded by Trustee Sommers, unanimously adopted by the Board of Trustees, 7/14/1994), At the same meeting, each of the five members of the Board of Trustees were assigned one or more departments over which to serve as "liaison" and to report any immediate concerns to the Village Manager.
James J. Malloy, Village Manager 1992 to 1994.
03/28/1996 Matter of John Barbarite, et al. In re. Victor Gordon, et al. v. Village of Monticello, et al., SUED TO HOLD PUBLIC OFFICIALS PERSONALLY LIABLE FOR ATTORNEY FEES - CASE DISMISSED .
07/21/1994 Fired Village Manager will be paid Times Herald-Record, "The Village Board... agreed to pay former Village Manager James J. Malloy about $6,000 in [33 days] back, sick, and vacation pay..."
Terms - No contract, at the pleasure of the Board of Trustees, salary: $47,500.00 per year.
Robert D. Norris, Village Manager 05/02/1988 to 04/26/1992.
05/1992 "People's Voice" article published by John Barbarite
Terms - No contract, at the pleasure of the Board of Trustees, salary: started at $40,000, ended at $48,400 per year.
Nicholas P. Speranza, Village Manager 09/10/1986 to 03/06/1988.
Terms - No contract, at the pleasure of the Board of Trustees, salary: started at $38,000, ended at $42,000 per year.
Harvey Smith , Village Manager 06/17/1985 to 07/04/1986.
Terms - No contract, at the pleasure of the Board of Trustees, salary: started at $38,000, ended at $42,000 per year.
Louis Bernstein , Village Manager 01/06/1978 to 08/02/1985.
Terms - No contract, at the pleasure of the Board of Trustees, salary: started at $21,000, ended at $32,266 per year.
Donald C. Block , Village Manager 1971 (?) to 1978 (?).
Thomas S. Belmont , Village Manager 08/02/1954 to 06/01/1971.
Terms - No contract, at the pleasure of the Board of Trustees, salary: started at $6,923, ended at $14,444 per year.
The author of this introduction, Thomas S. Belmont, was Monticello's first Village Manager. He included this, and the accompanying organizational chart, in his first annual report to the Village Board to make clear the legislative intent of the framer's of Monticello's "council-manager" form of government, and explain how the Manager is intended to function subordinate to the Board of Trustees.
"Briefly, the main features of Council-Manager government are: a small council elected at large on a non-partisan ballot determines all municipal policies which are not set forth in a charter itself, adopts ordinances, votes appropriations and is required to appoint a chief executive officer called a Village Manager. The council is the governing body of the Village and the Village Manager is its agent in carrying out the policy which it determines. It is definitely understood that the Council deals with administration only in a formal manner through the Village Manager, and that administrative functions are at no time delegated to committees or individual members of the Council.
"The Village Manager, the head of the administrative branch, is appointed by the Council as a whole. The exercise of administrative authority is concentrated in this appointed executive who is accountable to the Council. The Manager provides the Council with information which enables it to determine municipal policies, advises the Council in matters of policy if the Council so desires, and executes the policy determined by the Council. He introduces the best principles of advanced administrative organization in practice and is held responsible for the proper coordination of all administrative activities under his direction. "Principle Duties of the Village Manager "Generally the duties of the Village Manager are:
- "To see that all laws and ordinances are enforced.
- "To exercise control over all departments and in accordance with Civil Service regulations appoint, supervise, and remove department heads and subordinate employees of the Village.
- "To make such recommendations to the Trustees concerning the affairs of the Village as may seem to him desirable.
- "To keep the Board of Trustees advised of the financial condition and future needs of the Village.
- "To prepare and submit to the Board such reports as may be required by that body.
- "To keep the public informed through reports to the Village Board regarding the operations of the Village Government.
- "To perform such other duties as may be prescribed by charter or required of him by ordinances or by resolutions of the Board of Trustees."
UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
Anyone is invited to send factual corrections, preferably with available documentation, to tomrue@gmail.com.
