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Commission hires Rodney Brimlow as Deerfield Beach city manager at $235,000 salary
Summary
After debate about pay and comparables, the commission approved an employment agreement appointing Rodney Brimlow as city manager, setting a $235,000 base salary and outlining benefits and severance terms.
The City Commission approved an employment agreement on Feb. 4 appointing Rodney Brimlow as the permanent city manager of Deerfield Beach, setting his base salary at $235,000 and memorializing benefits and termination terms discussed in closed negotiations.
A city attorney summarized the contract terms for the commission. Key provisions include a combined 15% deferred-compensation and retirement contribution (the same combined percentage as prior city manager contracts), a $600 monthly automobile stipend, city-provided cellphone and laptop, health insurance with spousal and dependent coverage identical to other employees (or a stipend equal to the managerial family-plan average if the manager opts out), and a credited one-time 20 days of annual leave upon execution of the agreement.
On severance and termination, the attorney said the contract follows charter procedures: the commission may terminate at any time by vote and a charter hearing process would apply. If terminated for reasons other than misconduct within the first six months, the manager would receive 10 weeks' severance; after six months the severance becomes 20 weeks. Termination for misconduct carries no severance. The agreement includes a waiver of the charter's residency requirement, as prior city-manager contracts have done; the appointment is effective as of Jan. 21, 2025, the date the commission named Brimlow interim manager.
Commission debate focused tightly on salary. The city attorney said Brimlow requested $249,000; commissioners discussed comparable city-manager salaries across Broward County. Commissioner Hudak proposed $235,000 and Commissioner Preston proposed $240,000; after discussion the commission voted 3-2 to set the salary at $235,000. The motion to approve the employment agreement with the $235,000 salary was moved by Commissioner Hudak and seconded by Vice Mayor Drozsky. Roll call votes were: Hudak yes, Parnas no, Preston no, Drozsky yes, Mayor Gans yes.
Public comment before the vote included speakers both for and against immediate approval: Erin Shelley, a candidate for District 3, said she had been opposed to waiting for the new commission but had been impressed by Brimlow's interview and said she looked forward to working with him; Dan Hurst criticized the proposed salary and urged tying pay to performance on specific city projects; Daniel Shanetzky supported the appointment and urged the commission to give Brimlow the tools to succeed.
With the approved contract, the city manager will receive managerial benefits consistent with other city managerial employees and will be subject to the commission's performance oversight and the charter termination process.
