By Robert Barron, Staff Writer
A steady hand on city finances and improved relations with employees and the community were among the reasons for a $6,400 bonus given to City Manager Eric Benson Tuesday night.
Mayor John Criner said Wednesday the bonus was for Benson’s performance and staying within the budget.
“He works really hard on commission meetings. He lays before us things of major importance to the community,” Criner said. “This year we stepped out and took on the economic development authority out of the chamber and put together another organization.”
Criner said other city employees receive bonuses for outstanding performance, and the commission felt it was fair for Benson also to receive one. Benson had been receiving $100 a month expenses for his city cell phone and he asked that be discontinued.
Benson also received a 3.5 percent pay increase to $113,600. That percentage increase was the same received by all city employees.
“We could have given him an outright $120,000, but this also brings his salary in line with what other city managers get,” Criner said.
At some point, he said, the city manager’s salary will be at a level Enid can attract another good candidate. Criner said Enid has had some bad city managers, and city commissioners believe Benson has done a good job. They determined to keep his increase in line with the percentage other employees received, but also think he deserved a bonus, Criner said.
Criner said Benson has done a “remarkable” job in bringing all of the city employees together. The old antagonisms between the union and city manager no longer exist, Criner said. He also praised Benson’s good relations with the community.
“He is able to get so much accomplished,” he said.
Benson said Wednesday he did not receive a performance bonus. He said his contract excludes a performance bonus, and that he negotiated a salary and the commission gave him a lump sum payment to invest in his 401K or other investments. Benson referred to his contract as negotiated and said he did not ask for the bonus.
“I did not ask for that,” he said. “I do not receive retirement or other benefits, I am a straight-salaried employee.”
According to information from Oklahoma Municipal League, Benson is among the lowest-paid city managers for a city the size of Enid in the state.
Union employees’ bonus criteria is outlined in their contracts and non-union employee bonuses are determined by Benson. Only a “handful” of city employees did not receive any bonus this year, Benson said.
