Commission approves amended city manager contract after debate over pay, comp time and term

The Lynn Haven City Commission voted 4-1 to approve a second amendment to City Manager Vicky Gaynor’s employment agreement, amending the contract term to end Sept. 30, 2027, and making several clarifying changes to leave and benefits.

The vote came after weeks of discussion and a lengthy public comment period. Commissioner Purnell moved the amendment with a change to the contract term; Commissioner Vandegrift seconded. The final roll call was: Commissioners Purnell, Vandegrift and Peebles and Mayor Nelson voting yes; Commissioner Ward voting no.

The measure drew sustained debate among commissioners over three main issues: whether to extend the contract term beyond the manager’s current end date, how to treat overtime and compensatory time for a salaried official, and whether to tie future raises to an objective evaluation schedule. City Attorney (City Attorney) reminded commissioners that the existing contract already “provides currently, that a review and evaluation shall be conducted annually in advance of the adoption of the budget,” and that the form of the evaluation can be developed jointly by the manager and the…