The Virginian-Pilot
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VIRGINIA BEACH
The City Council on Tuesday night renewed City Manager Jim Spore's contract for another two years.
The vote was 9-2, with Councilmen Bill DeSteph and John Moss voting no.
Spore, who recently hit 20 years as the Beach's city manager, makes $225,207. His salary increased in July by 2.5 percent, the average raise received by city employees. His fringe benefits include a $1,000 per month car allowance and $20,500 per year in deferred compensation for retirement.
In a prepared statement, Moss said he objected to Spore's salary and benefit package. DeSteph said he voted no because he's lost confidence in Spore's ability to get him information on city business.
After the vote, Mayor Will Sessoms said, "Mister Spore, we're damn lucky to have you."
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Missing!
What the article does not mention is that although Spore's salary well exceeds $200,000, the payroll for the entire staff in his office is around $1 million annually; I know he has 3 assistants that more than exceed $100,000 in salary. Also, I questions a $1000 per month car allowance (WOW).
reality check
The anger against Spore is misplaced. He is an employee of the city council and does what 6 people tell him to do. And here's a news flash: Moss & Desteph are in the minority on council.
If you don't like the city manager, use your power to remove the council members who support him. But you can't fault him for doing what his bosses say.
Neutral observer-not hardly
I think you'll find that Jim is no innocent just sitting back and taking orders from his bosses. He believes in many of the failures he helped foist upon us and strongly advocated for many of them. Perhaps you recall him tearing up protesters signs regarding 31st hotel. He did that on his own time from his little corvette. He was defintely providing aid and assistance to the convicts. Maybe Harrison, Branch and Sessoms put him up to it who knows. Perhaps you have the answer, maybe in the form of a Newsflash.
LRT=Heavy Taxes
20 years is long enough
Time to dump this has-been and get some new, intelligent, young, and forward-thinking blood in charge. The city is dying, bleeding money, and yet the puppets on council again coddle to the developers demands and re-hire this developer lap-dog.
Pack his corvette and send him on his way.
Sessoms first
We need more City Council members like DeSteph and Moss. First focus has to be on dumping Sessoms in the next election. Then we can work on dumping Spore.
Put down the Kool Aid Glass
Fortunately the overwhelming majority of voters disagree with you on this one.
In a big turn-out November election Moss has proven time and again he cannot win. Desteph has been the 2nd place guy both times he ran, but he can win a November race.
The question is does a Moss-Desteph ticket hurt Desteph or help Moss?
Jim Spore's Legacy
When the history of Jim Spore's tenure is written it won't be pretty.
The failures and ill conceived ideas which squandered an enormous amount of our tax dollars and loaded on a mountain of debt will far outweigh any good that he has done.
1) Putting us in bed with convicts on the 31st hotel.
2) Putting us in bed with convicts on the Laskin Road Gateway.
3) The massive giveaway at Town Center and virtually no good paying jobs
to show for it.
4) TPC golf course.
5) Sportsplex.
6) Days Inn Bonney Road.
7) Purchase of abandoned Rail Line $40mil.
8) Purchase of old Circuit City-Which gave us a used car dealer at the
gateway to Town Center.
I could go on but you get the drift.
my, my, my
Life is grand in the land of Will isn't it?