Campbell seeks $55,000 raise as City Manager

According to a draft contract, Fernandina Beach will pay Sarah Campbell a starting salary of $205,000, with stipulations for $10,000 pay increases after six months and one year.

Campbell currently earns $150,118 as the town manager of Orange Park.

City Attorney Tammi Bach reviewed the details of the contract at Tuesday's city commission meeting, which Campbell has negotiated with Bach and Human Resources Director Denise Matson.

City Commissioners will vote on Campbell's contract at their Oct. 1 meeting.

Campbell was named city manager earlier this month on a split 3-2 city commission vote.

She would start the job under a cloud of controversy because Mayor Bradley Bean could be one of her supervisors. Campbell's husband works for Bean's father, U.S. Congressman Aaron Bean.

If the contract is approved, Campbell has a 45-day notice with Orange Park that would mean her first day as Fernandina Beach city manager would be Nov. 16.

Bach said she initially offered Campbell a salary of $190,000.

"She came back at $225,000, the top of the range," Bach said. "I had some conversations with some individual commissioners to see what your appetite was. What Ms. Campbell and I settled on was a starting salary of $205,000."

Bach said there are benchmarks in the first year.

"At six months there's a commission evaluation. So, for salary, pending a successful evaluation by the city commission, she is entitled to a $10,000 raise after six months which would put her at $215,000. At one year, around Oct. 1, the city commission will do an annual evaluation of the city manager. Pending another satisfactory evaluation, she would get another $10,000 putting her at $225,000."

For severance in the event Campbell is terminated, Bach said state law allows for 20 weeks, and Campbell is seeking 20 weeks in the contract.

Also included is a $5,000 relocation stipend, a $500 per month stipend for a take-home vehicle and a $50 per month cell phone allowance.