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Selectmen Extend Donovan Contract, Offer Pay to Stay
Posted Friday, February 8, 2008
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(Selectmen released the following Press Release:)
The Kingston Board of Selectmen entered into executive session on Tuesday night to discuss “Bargaining for Non-Union Personnel”. The issue at hand was the consideration of extending Town Administrator Kevin Donovan’s contract and possible financial compensation increase. Mr. Donovan was recently a finalist for the position of Town Administrator in Marshfield and has been approached by other Search Committees seeking to fill similar positions in surrounding Towns.
Selectmen Chairman Mark Beaton said, “Like Mike Lowell, All Star third baseman and World Series MVP, Mr. Donovan is a valuable commodity”. With a salary of $103,000 per year and no contribution by the Town for health insurance benefits, Mr. Donovan’s compensation is approximately $25,000 below the regional average compensation for his position.
It was the Board’s opinion that with pending litigation, the $730,000,000 build-out of 1021 Kingston Place and ongoing contract negotiations, Kingston would be best served trying to keep the services of its present Town Administrator. The offer presented and accepted by Mr. Donovan is $120,000 total compensation, effective July 1, 2008, for a three-year contractual period ending June 30, 2011. Coupled with this offer are “Goals and Objectives” to be developed by the Board of Selectmen regarding Mr. Donovan’s job requirements.
The Board of Selectmen was also concerned with funding the increase given the tight financial position the Town is in. It will be possible to absorb the salary increase, due to a $30,000 Liability Insurance credit that was actuated by Mr. Donovan’s participation in cost saving programs.
Departing Selectman Joseph Kelleher, who is moving to Washington, D.C. for a job opportunity, said it succinctly, “I am leaving in three months and three positions on the Board are up for election, if Mr. Donovan leaves now, the Town will really be in trouble”.
The Board of Selectmen feels that its proactive response will put the Town of Kingston in a good place. The Town has been well served by Town Administrator Kevin Donovan and expects a continued outstanding performance by the Town Administrator, according to Chairman Beaton.
(Editor's note: We agree with the decision, but when did that 40-R project ever become $730 million? Sure they didn't mean 730 units?)
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