01.16.13
Milanoski now makes more than Gov. Deval Patrick
Acting Town Manager Mike Milanoski’s new contract signed and effective Jan. 15, 2013 is an amazing one for a town that has the 10th highest tax rate in the state and wants town unions to take no raises this year — after Milanoski and other town officials bragging for months about the $1MM it made in new growth.
Starting Jan. 15th, Milanoski is making $150,000 a year with 5 weeks vacation plus $300 a month in addition to his regular compensation. People who have served their companies for many years get five weeks vacation. Doesn’t usually happen with new hires that have served the town less than a year. Some people get that kind of vacation after 20 years.
It is interesting that Milanoski doesn’t wish to use a town purchased cell phone, but never mind, the town will reimburse him for his personal plan. Milanoski has been tracking employees’ cell phone usage, threatening to fire them if he finds any personal calls. Perhaps he’s afraid his personal calls will catch up to him, as personal calls are wont to do.
Milanoski has to work, at a minimum, the same number of hours, as the Office of the Board is open to the public. He has to be available to meet with the public on Tuesdays. And he is permitted to devoting no more than eight hours per week for his private consulting providing that such efforts are outside the normal business hours of Town Hall. One citizen commented:
“This man hardly keeps any normal business hours. Just how would that work?” Yes indeed, how
Article 4 Sect. 4.2 of the contract says “Nothing herein shall be construed to prevent the BOARD from increasing MILANOSKI’S compensation at its discretion in the event additional duties are assigned to him nor shall it be construed to require an increase in compensation in such event.” But you know how this board loves to give Milanoski money. If elections don’t put a stop to this – Milanoski will be at $170,000 in no time at all.
The vote on Milanoski’s contract was 4-1 – with Selectman Martha Gjesteby voting no.
FACT: Milanoski now makes more than Gov. Deval Patrick.
Less than a year ago Mike Milanoski was following Mike Coughlin around town learning how to do the job. Then last February when Coughlin was fired Milanoski volunteered to “help out the town” until Selectmen could find themselves a professional town manager. The next thing we knew, Milanoski was named town manager, this in spite of the fact that he had not been separated from his appointed jobs with the town long enough to qualify under the Town Manager Act.
A search committee never vetted Milanoski. Selectmen had never seen his resume. He was just…”Ted’s (former selectman Ted Carr) neighbor,” and that was good enough for the Cohasset Board of Selectmen. He started last April with a $115,000 contract. Last September selectmen upped his salary to $132,500 – and five months later selectmen gave him a new contract and upped his salary another $20,000 to the $150,000 he has enjoyed since Jan. 15, just a few days ago.
Milanoski’s new $150,000 contract says he is an acting town manager, but his contract is for a year, and acting town managers aren’t supposed to get one-year contracts. They’re supposed to get letter contracts in 3 and 6-month stages. They hardly accrue any vacation time because during this time the town fathers and mothers are supposed to be advertising for a professional town manager that will be vetted by a proper screening committee.
Town Counsel Paul DeRensis advised selectmen to keep Milanoski on the old, illegal contract through June and then do a 6-month acting town manager contract through December, but selectmen ignored DeRensis’ advice.
Actually – selectmen are tired of DeRensis not agreeing with them and they are seeking proposals from a new town counsel firm. They say they’re putting out some other RFP’s also, but town counsel services was the only one Selectman Diane Kennedy mentioned.
Matt Torsten Said:
January 17, 2013 at 3:56 PM
Well, this just made my voting alot easier next time around!! If the rest or most of the town doesn’t see what’s happening here, well….
Tom Cullen Said:
January 17, 2013 at 5:31 PM
It is easy to understand why Ted Carr and Mike Milanoski are neighbors– they both like to take advantage of the taxpayers. Perhaps State Auditor Bump should come into Cohasset– we can only hope that she will ask Mike to pay the town back as she is forcing Ted to do for the state.
scottmcoyne Said:
January 18, 2013 at 8:26 AM
Wow! I should have Milanoski negotiate my next contract with the City of Boston.
Not sure how this is going to float with voters and tax payers.
My gut feeling is that once a few legal actions begin and with the Milanoski rate of compensation, the BOS are going to have to really start being help accountable.
Al Stefan Said:
January 18, 2013 at 8:58 AM
This article would be more impactful if details were provided of the compensation packages of at least the past 2 TM’s. As it is, it sounds a little “sour milk” ish…. While I abhor the BOS and their handlers, I like my information, fact based, and devoid of hyperbole. Could someone please post this information in this thread? From there, valid pressure can be applied if warranted.
Tanna K Said:
January 18, 2013 at 10:28 AM
Tom Gruber is the contract expert. I’ve put a call into him asking if he’d like to make any contract comments on our blog.
Here’s my basic knowledge.
Bill Griffin made $135,000 in his last year.
Mike Coughlin’s base salary was $112,500.
In his second year he would have received $132,500.
Coughlin’s third year would have been $132,500 plus a percentage increase equal to that received by other town non-union employees. He got $300 per month for expenses.
Vacation time 4 weeks 1st., 2nd and third years.
Griffin and Coughlin (also an attorney) were both professional town managers with many years of experience.
At their last meeting, Selectmen Diane Kennedy and Martha Gjesteby discussed a more rational town manager’s salary as being around $170,000. Maybe. But they should not arbitrarily make a decision to throw the town manager’s salary range out of wack without public input, public discourse, public examination.
Last Tuesday selectmen said they signed a new contract with Milanoski.
No discussion, no debate. No nothing.
Gerry Boynton Said:
January 18, 2013 at 12:53 PM
This is in response to Al Stefan’s comment, above.
Your town manager has a signed contract.
The only valid pressure that can be applied is your annual town election.
What is it with this town? All the other towns up there seem to be happy little towns, doing their business. What’s wrong with this one?
My family lived in Cohasset years ago. Up until the late 80s we spent a day or two in Cohasset on our way to the Cape. Now, we don’t travel so much any more.
I hope this town finds some peace, and soon.
Al Stefan Said:
January 19, 2013 at 8:33 AM
Thanks Tanna. As we all know, Comp packages are typically based on experience around a known regional or role based number. Clearly MM is low on the experience. Does anyone know the avg. package for a town our size in MA? Also, sounds like they just split down the middle from 130 to 170… As far as experience, only Martha would care/fight on that point. The others only care that they “own” him and can direct him at their whim, (which is a fantastic strategy, working very very well for them).
The net of all this continues to be that, despite whatever horrible, bullying, negative, Country Club-esque tactics, they apply, they are simply better organized than the voices opposed to them. Until that balance tips the other way the frustration will continue. Those opposed to them, including myself, must better organize and communicate within the town, to vote at least 2 more of the BOS out. They won’t go easily, and its clear the State of MA couldn’t care less.
Who’s gonna organize beer night at Dooley’s for meeting 1. Leave your emotion at home, and bring your candidates and your walking shoes to start going door to door. We can skip the homes of Chamillard, Killelea, Dormitzer, DeCaprio, and the other clowns getting their jollies from controlling a small town…
scottmcoyne Said:
January 19, 2013 at 4:25 PM
Al, Count me in, I am more than willing to help.