West Melbourne city manager gets $27,248-a-year salary boost in unanimous City Council vote

Fearing that West Melbourne City Manager Tim Rhode is underpaid ― and could get lured away by a better salary offer from another community — the City Council approved raising Rhode's annual pay by more than $27,000.

Council members on Oct. 3 unanimously approved raising Rhode's annual salary to $177,248, up more than 18% from the $150,000 salary he was given when he became city manager a little more than one year ago. Rhode's new salary is the midpoint of West Melbourne's current pay range for city manager of $139,018 to $215,479.

Rhode's new salary also is higher than the $168,972 salary of Rhode's predecessor, Scott Morgan, at the time of Morgan's retirement in August 2022. Morgan served as city manager there for 13 years. Morgan's salary when he retired was at the top of the salary range at the time for the city manager position.

A city analysis of city manager pay levels in West Melbourne and nine other Brevard County cities showed that the average salaries of city managers is $183,410, with four earning more than $211,000. West Melbourne is Brevard's fourth-most-populous city ― behind Palm Bay, Melbourne and Titusville ― with a population of about 29,000.

During debate on Rhode's salary, City Council Member Daniel McDow said Rhode's previous salary "was way too low," especially in light of Rhode's recent performance evaluation scores from the City Council.

"I think highly of him, and I think he's good for the city," McDow said. "We do not want to lose the CEO."

City manager selection: West Melbourne may hire Tim Rhode as city manager; Daniel Batcheldor to leave City Council

As part of the performance evaluation process, the seven members of the City Council each rated Rhode on 45 factors, and gave Rhode an average overall score of 3.93 on a 0-to-5 scale for his one-year evaluation. Rhode scored highest on fiscal management issues.

The scores were an improvement from Rhode's six-month evaluation, in which he received an average score of 3.39 and did not receive a raise at that time. But the scores remained under the rating City Council members gave Morgan in each of Morgan's last five annual evaluation, including a 4.57 in 2020.

A score of 3 is considered "average," a score of 4 is considered "above average" and score of 5 is considered "excellent."

Rhode had been assistant city manager of West Melbourne from September 2021 until he became city manager on Sept. 1, 2022. As assistant city manager, Rhode managed the day-to-day operations of the public works and human resources departments.

Before being hired by West Melbourne, Rhode led the governments in five cities, towns or villages, each with a population of less than 10,000. He was:

• Village administrator in Hartland, Wisconsin, from January 2020 to June 2021.

• Town administrator in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, from May 2016 to December 2019.

• City administrator in St. Francis, Wisconsin, from May 2011 to May 2016.

• Village administrator/clerk in Butler, Wisconsin, from February 2006 to May 2011.

• City administrator in Monticello, Iowa, from March 2004 to February 2006.

Rhode told City Council members that he is "very honored" and "very appreciative" to get a salary boost to the midpoint of his salary range.

Rhode gave himself an overall score 3.58 in his self-evaluation. He said his major goals for the coming year include the city budget; seeking out grants for the city; police department staffing; starting construction of a new building department facility; and continuing efforts to get a new potable water plant in operation by 2027.

He said one of his major challenges in his first year in office was rebuilding the department head team, including hiring a new police chief, human resources director, finance director, capital projects manager, building official and recreation director, as well as helping the City Council hire a new city attorney. He also reorganized some of the city departments, including putting the parks department under the public works director, as well as moving code enforcement to the police department.

The City Council last year opted to promote Rhode from assistant city manager to city manager, rather than consider the 43 external applicants to become the next city manager.

Approach to succeed Mayor Rose

In another West Melbourne city government development, longtime Mayor Hal Rose presided over his final meeting, and the City Council reached a consensus on the procedure to replace him.

Decision to retire: Longtime West Melbourne Mayor Rose retiring from position, after residency controversy

Rose retired as mayor, effective Oct. 4, after two City Council members raised issues about whether Rose met residency retirements to continue to serve as mayor. Rose sold his house in West Melbourne and bought one on Viera, but said he still maintains a residence in West Melbourne.

In final remarks to City Council members at the end of the Oct. 3 council meeting, Rose said: "I've had a lot of fun over the years. The city has done well, and I'm sure you'll keep it going in the right direction. The city is a lot better off than it was many, many years ago. At the end of the day, the city moves forward, and we're all working together."

Rose was first elected mayor in 2007. Before that, he was a member of the West Melbourne Planning and Zoning Board and a member of the City Council.

The City Council agree to hold a special meeting on Oct. 17 to vote on which one of them would take over as mayor for the remainder of Rose's term, which would end in November 2024.

Under provisions of the City Charter, the City Council has 60 days from the date the vacancy was created to choose a new mayor from within its ranks. If they are deadlocked after 60 days, a special election is scheduled, and any West Melbourne resident ― not just City Council members ― can seek to become a candidate.

For now, West Melbourne Deputy Mayor Stephen Phrampus is serving as interim mayor until a new mayor is selected.

Phrampus and City Council Member Andrea Young both are announced candidates for mayor in the November 2024 election.

Once someone is selected to fill out the rest of Rose's term as mayor, if a vacancy is created on the City Council, council members will seek applicants for the vacant council position and will vote on filling the vacancy, potentially as early as their Nov. 14 meeting.

During Rose's last meeting as mayor, council members and other public officials lauded Rose's work. Phrampus said Rose "did an awesome job" as mayor. Young told Rose that he was an inspiration to her, and "you've got big shoes to fill."

Dave Berman is business editor at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Berman at dberman@floridatoday.com, on X at @bydaveberman and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dave.berman.54

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: West Melbourne City Council gives city manager $27,248-a-year raise