By By JOHN EBY / Niles Daily Star
CASSOPOLIS - Terry L. Proctor, Cass County's second administrator for the past 16 years, is leaving - for one month.
In his contract renewal approved Thursday by the Board of Commissioners, Proctor will “retire” and take a one-month sabbatical during January 2006 so he can begin to collect his pension.
He will return Feb. 1 and work all 12 months in 2007.
His three-year contract calls for Proctor to “remain in the exclusive employ” of Cass County until Feb. 1, 2009.
Proctor, who turns 55 in March, has 26 years of service between Cass County and a similar prior position in Massachusetts.
He succeeded Jeff Carmen as Cass County's second administrator on Jan. 1, 1990. Commissioners appointed him controller in 1992. Finance Director John Murphy was hired jointly with the Medical Care Facility in 1993. Murphy became fulltime with the county in 1994.
The annual cost for Murphy to prepare the budget until August 2003 is calculated at $78,027, including his $60,021 salary, fringe benefits of $16,400 and $1,606 for training and travel.
In August 2003, when Proctor took over budgeting with the help of part-time certified public accountant Rebecca Moore of Dowagiac, the $50,402 price tag - $47,252 for professional services and $3,150 for travel and transportation - represents a $27,625 annual savings.
Commissioner Terri Kitchen, R-Silver Creek Township, cited that savings laid out in a Nov. 17 Proctor memo comparing compensation for the former finance director and the CPA because she had not been inclined to vote for Proctor's new contract.
Proctor's $113,636 compensation package this year includes his $85,793 salary, $13,000 deferred compensation, a $5,480 car allowance, a $2,500 continued employment incentive and a final $6,863 retirement contribution.
With the month off in 2006, his package will cost less, $106,052, including $80,052 salary, $18,000 deferred compensation, $5,500 car allowance and $2,500 continued employment incentive.
For the 12 months of 2007, Proctor's $114,009 compensation consists of $87,509 salary, $18,000 deferred compensation, $6,000 car allowance and $2,500 continued employment incentive.
Commissioners June 16 authorized Chairman Bob Wagel, R-Wayne Township, to appoint a committee to meet with Proctor to complete terms and conditions of a renewal contract.
The committee of Commissioners Dale Lowe, R-Niles, Alan Northrop, R-Marcellus, Cathy Goodenough, R-Marcellus, Vice Chairman Ron Francis, R-Cassopolis, and Wagel met four times to complete the 14-page contract.
Francis moved to appoint Information Systems Director Kerry Collins acting county administrator during January 2006.
Commissioner Alan Northrop, R-Marcellus, wondered why Proctor had not recommended his administrative assistant, Tara Myer.
Proctor responded that Collins “completed his bachelor's degree during his time with the county. He's also expressed an interest to me - he's a department head and I do his evaluation - that he aspires to perhaps become a county administrator as his career develops in the future.
Myer, from the audience, said she would be fine with whichever way the board decided. The divided voice vote which Wagel declared carried resulted in a request for a roll call.
That 7-6 margin appointing Collins acting county administrator in January was supported by Bob Wagel, David Taylor, Carl Higley Sr., Ron Francis, Dixie Ann File, John Cureton and Dale Lowe.
Alan Northrop, Cathy Goodenough, Gordon Bickel, Johnie Rodebush, Robert Ziliak and Terri Kitchen cast no votes. Minnie Warren and Jack Teter were absent.