Clearwater manager, attorney get pay raises

CLEARWATER — City Manager Bill Horne and City Attorney Pam Akin both received 3 percent pay raises last week following mostly favorable annual reviews by the City Council last month.

Horne's salary increased to $196,757 and Akin's to $181,621, both still below the average pay for comparable local markets, according to human resources director Joseph Roseto.

The raises passed 3-2 with Mayor George Cretekos and Vice Mayor Bill Jonson in opposition. Cretekos said he was satisfied with Horne's and Akin's performances, but could not support 3 percent raises when the unionized employees received a 2.5 percent raise this year.

"It sends the wrong signal," Cretekos said.

Jonson was the only council member to submit negative comments on Horne's annual review. He critiqued the slow progress on implementing 2014 recommendations from Urban Land Institute consultants and a need to use performance metrics to drive improvement.