Bartlett’s contract in discussion
Published 9:42 pm Friday, January 6, 2017
Supervisors in Prince Edward County will hold a special meeting Tuesday, Jan. 10 to discuss the county administrator’s contract, performance and salary.
Wade Bartlett’s current contract will end on Feb. 28, Board of Supervisors Chairman and District 101 Supervisor Howard F. Simpson said.
Wade Bartlett
Bartlett said his current contract has a term of five years, which began on March 1, 2012.
The salary at the start of the contract was $120,000, and currently stands at $133,258.
“The increase was the result (of) increases, all of which were the same as received by all county employees,” Bartlett said.
On July 1, 2012, Bartlett said, the salary was increased by 5.7 percent. All employees received this to offset a state-mandated employee contribution into the Virginia Retirement System (VRS). Prior to the mandate, the county, along with “the vast majority of local governments,” paid the VRS contribution for employees, according to Bartlett.
The contract increased again a year later, on July 1, 2013, by 2 percent, and then on Sept. 1, 2015, by 3 percent. Each time, all county employees received an equal pay increase, he said.
“On July 1, 2012, county employees received a 3.6 percent increase,” Bartlett noted. “Per the new contract, I did not receive that increase.”
Vivian Seay Giles, county administrator and attorney for Cumberland, said she earns $149,901 for her combined positions.
Likewise, Buckingham County Administrator Rebecca S. Carter said she makes $123,600 annually. She’s worked with Buckingham County since 1986.
Howard Simpson
In addition to Bartlett’s salary, he also receives compensation for vehicle and other expenses at a rate of $400 per month.
“The contract contains an incentive bonus of $10,000 per year for each of the five years less the increases received during each year,” Bartlett said.
Simpson said he doesn’t expect a decision during Tuesday’s meeting.
The personnel committee has met to discuss the matter “a couple times,” and the board of supervisors met about the matter during the December board meeting in closed session, he said.
“The whole board will end up having to vote upon it. I really don’t know what some of the board members will do,” Simpson said. “We’ll find out when we get to it.”
The closed session will take place at 5 p.m. in the board of supervisors’ conference room in the Prince Edward Courthouse.
Bartlett declined comment on supervisors’ consideration of his contract’s renewal or other action.
